Long‐distance dispersal of Black Spear Grass (Heteropogon contortus) seed on socks and trouser legs by walkers in Kakadu National Park

A significant portion of Black Spear Grass (Heteropogon contortus) seeds remains attached to the socks and trousers of walkers even after walking 5 kilometers, indicating humans can unintentionally disperse native or invasive grasses over long distances. The study, conducted in Kakadu National Park, Australia, used a double exponential model to fit the data, showing that while 19% of seeds were dispersed within the first 5 meters, 55% persisted on clothing after 5 km. This suggests that strategies like gaiters and careful seed removal could mitigate human-mediated dispersal risks for grasses with similar seed structures.

Ansong, M., & Pickering, C. (2012). Long‐distance dispersal of Black Spear Grass (Heteropogon contortus) seed on socks and trouser legs by walkers in Kakadu National Park. Ecological Management & Restoration, 14(1), 71–74. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.12021