3.5 Drivers of seed dispersal distances:
Mean and maximum dispersal distance increased significantly with species
body mass (mean dispersal estimate ± std. error = 0.67 ± 0.21, p =
0.00245; maximum dispersal estimate ± std. error = 0.78 ± 0.28, p =
0.0071; Fig. 5a and 5b). Volant species (bats, flying foxes and flying
birds) had significantly higher mean seed dispersal distances than
nonvolant species (mean dispersal estimate ± std. error = 0.95 ± 0.45, p
= 0.0384; Fig. 5a). Volant species also had marginally significant
higher maximum seed dispersal distances than nonvolant species (maximum
dispersal estimate ± std. error = 1.02 ± 0.6, p = 0.094; Fig. 5b).
Maximum dispersal distances also increased significantly with an
interaction between body mass and volant species (maximum dispersal
estimate ± std. error = 2322.85 ± 726.28, p = 0.002; Fig. 5b). The
studies that were undertaken in protected areas also showed a
significantly higher mean seed dispersal distance than those that were
not in protected areas (mean dispersal estimate ± std. error = 1.29 ±
0.43, p = 0.0037; Fig. 5a).