Editing Conifer (section)

===Seed-dispersal mechanism===

Wind and animal dispersals are two major mechanisms involved in the dispersal of conifer seeds. Wind-born seed dispersal involves two processes, namely; local neighborhood dispersal and long-distance dispersal. Long-distance dispersal distances range from {{convert|11.9|-|33.7|km}} from the source.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Williams|first1=C.G.|last2=LaDeau|first2=S.L. |last3=Oren|first3=R. |last4=Katul|first4=G.G. |year=2006 |title=Modeling seed dispersal distances: implications for transgenic Pinus taeda |journal=Ecological Applications |volume=16|issue=1 |pages=117–124|doi=10.1890/04-1901 |pmid=16705965 |bibcode=2006EcoAp..16..117W }}</ref>
Birds of the crow family, [[Corvidae]], are the primary distributor of the conifer seeds. These birds are known to [[Hoarding (animal behavior)|cache]] 32,000 pine seeds and transport the seeds as far as {{convert|12|-|22|km|abbr=on}} from the source. The birds store the seeds in the soil at depths of {{convert|2|–|3|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} under conditions which favor [[germination]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tomback |first1=D. |author-link=Diana Tomback |first2=Y. |last2=Linhart |year=1990|title=The evolution of bird-dispersed pines |journal=Evolutionary Ecology |volume=4|issue=3|pages=185–219 |doi=10.1007/BF02214330 |bibcode=1990EvEco...4..185T }}</ref>