splashdispersal

Splashdispersal is a mode of seed and propagule dispersal in which the impact of water droplets, typically rain, causes dispersal by mechanical ejection or by transport with splash movement. It is categorized as a subtype of hydrochory. In many plants, seeds are housed in capsules or pods that are fragile or configured so that wetting weakens the tissue or creates pressure; a raindrop impact causes the structures to rupture or deform, propelling seeds outward.

In some cases, seeds are attached to surfaces that trap water and are then flung when the surface is disturbed by a droplet’s kinetic energy. The dispersal distance is usually limited, ranging from a few centimeters to a few meters, often resulting in a locally clumped distribution around the parent plant. Splashdispersal can operate in conjunction with other dispersal modes, such as gravity or wind, and can complement longer-range hydrochory by moving propagules between microhabitats within a landscape.

Ecological significance: It can help plants exploit microhabitats near water or in rain-scoured environments, promote genetic mixing at local scales, and facilitate rapid local colonization after rainfall events. It may be more effective in plants with explosive dehiscence integrated with the rainfall pattern of their habitat.

Study methods: Researchers use rain simulators, high-speed videography, and field observations to identify splashdispersal events and distinguish them from other release mechanisms. The term “splashdispersal” is sometimes written as splash dispersal or splash-dispersal in literature.