Animal personalities and seed dispersal: A conceptual review

Consistent individual tendencies in behaviour, or behavioural types, are likely to impact the dynamics and outcomes of animal-mediated seed dispersal. We review the extant literature on this issue and outline a conceptual overview to guide this emerging field. We provide an overview of possible ways in which behavioural types can affect animal-mediated seed dispersal. We summarize theoretical mechanisms linking behavioural types with seed dispersal outcomes and review how behavioural types might affect each stage of seed dispersal, beginning with fruit encounter and harvest, and ending with events that take place after seed deposition. Since behavioural types involve correlations among different behaviours (i.e. behavioural syndromes), they can generate unexpected associations between different decisions that are involved in seed dispersal, with conflicting (or reinforcing) effects on different stages of seed dispersal. Thus, we draw particular attention to trade-offs faced by seeds dispersed by individuals with different behavioural tendencies. We also note that since seed dispersal is a multiplicative process with different stages, disperser behavioural types that provide moderately efficient dispersal at each stage will be better for plants than behavioural types that are very efficient at some steps, but inefficient on others. Finally, we provide testable predictions on the links between behavioural types and characteristics of seed dispersal, including, for example, influences on the probability of seed harvest, dispersal distance, deposition sites and condition of dispersed seeds. We argue that investigating the links between behavioural types and animal-mediated seed dispersal will provide a better mechanistic understanding of seed dispersal and plant regeneration. A free plain language summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.