We determined the effect of heat shock on seed germination of 23 species growing in fire-prone areas covered by pine–oak and montane cloud forests. Seeds of each species were exposed to 60, 80, 100 or 120°C for 5 or 60 min in dry and moist sand. Seeds of nine species were incubated for 15 h in moist sand and exposed to the temperature that best promoted germination. Eighteen species required heat shock for germination, and five tolerated it. Dry heat shock for 5 min promoted germination of these species; heat shock in moist sand at 100°C induced germination of 10 species. Exposure for 60 min to heat shock in dry and moist sand improved germination of 14 and 5 species respectively. Logistic models indicate that germination probabilities of most species are increased by temperatures of 70–120°C. Depending on substrate and seed hydration, heat shock increased or left unchanged the germination of most pine–oak and montane cloud forest species. Thus, montane cloud forest seeds can survive low-intensity surface fires. Most species with seeds hydrated before heat shock showed little or no germination. Prescribed burns at the end of the rainy season may therefore be harmful to pine–oak and montane cloud forest species.

Seed dispersal is a dynamic process through which diaspores (seeds or seed‐bearing fruits) are detached from the mother plant, transported to different sites in the landscape that offer physical protection, competitive advantages, or lower predation risk. A variety of biotic and abiotic factors contribute to seed dispersal processes, resulting in a high diversity of dispersal systems observed in nature. At present, the relationship and classification of seed dispersal processes remain unclear. It is therefore essential to delineate seed dispersal systems and understand their functional traits in relation to ecosystem functioning and diversity, in order to elucidate plant distribution patterns. This review presents an updated synthesis of current knowledge on multiphase seed, reframing diaspora dispersal systems (fruits with seeds) as dynamic networks of transitions rather than discrete events, with particular emphasis on their efficiency and legitimacy. Three operational phases were defined: primary release, secondary transit and deposition, and the filters acting at each stage, including physical abrasion, digestive modification, vector movement, and habitat boundaries. To achieve this purpose, an analysis of 115 bibliographical references was conducted, ensuring the inclusion of seminal works from preceding years. We specifically describe how endozoochory and diploendozoochory can be considered efficient and legitimate dispersal systems for plants, as well as the potential benefits of a triple endozoochory process. Likewise, we propose a network‐based framework to model multiphase dispersal, integrating movement ecology, gut retention, and seed condition metrics. This review demonstrates that diaspore dispersal is a multifactorial process associated with intrinsic attributes of the diaspores, their dispersion agents, and their interactions with the environment and proposes a subtype of seed dispersal by endozoochory (triploendozoochory). By highlighting the ecological relevance and conservation implications of multiphase dispersal, this review calls for interdisciplinary research to quantify its contribution to plant connectivity, especially under global change. Recognizing predators, waterbirds, and caching agents' key multiphase vectors reframes their role in ecosystem resilience and restoration.

To design conservation and management strategies for sub-tropical moist forests, it is important to know how storage affects the longevity and germination of desiccation-sensitive seeds. These variables are controlled by a physiological process that is mainly associated with the seeds’ moisture content and reserve content, which can be significantly affected by environmental conditions. The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the relationship between longevity and reserve content of sensitive and non-sensitive desiccation seeds (ii), and to describe how the in situ burial and sub-optimal storage (inside growth chambers) can affect seed longevity. In seeds of six mountain cloud forest tree species, germination and seed reserve content were quantified in seeds collected recently (control) and at five different times, along with storage for 31 or 35 days in situ and under suboptimal conditions. Freshly harvested seeds with higher soluble carbohydrate and lipid content and the presence of thermo-stable proteins had the longest-expected ecological longevity and mean germination time. In contrast to in situ burial, germination was negatively affected by storage time. Burial time significantly affected the rate and mean germination time in most of the species. For two species, a greater soluble carbohydrate or a lower starch and lipid content in seeds was found to be related to the high germination rate in storage. Our results show that the sub-optimal storage reduces the lifespan in most of the study species and increases seed damages through dehydration.