Abstract: In this paper, we combined metaanalysis with APGIII system to analyze the effect of herbivore’s gut passage on seed germination of 70 plant species to search for patterns that predict the circumstances in which germination of seeds is enhanced, inhibited, or not affected by endozoochorous seed dispersal. The results showed that the overall effect of animal digestion on seed germination percentage of 70 plant species was slightly negative (OR=0.89, OR95%=0.61-1.28). Based on genetic relationship, we divided all plant species into seven groups to analyze the OR of germination. Gut treatment enhanced the seed germination of group 1 (including Acacia, Mimosa, Leucaena, Ceratonia and Prosopis) significantly, while inhibited that of group 4 (including Cajanus, Calopogonium, Neonotonia, Lablab, Lespedeza and Centrosemo) significantly. We further divided group 3 and group 5 into three subgroups to analyze the effects of gut treatment on seed germination, and the result showed that animal digestion promoted the seed germination of Medicago and inhibited the seed germination of Stylosanthes significantly. The seed germination of Trifolium was inhibited, but the difference was not significant. Among the 25 species of Trifolieae, the germination of intermediatesized seeds was promoted after endozoochorous dispersal, but the germination of small and big seeds was inhibited. The germination rate of digested seeds from the other 45 species was negatively correlated with seed weight, but the correlation was not significant.

Key words: shooting stage, Chloris virgate, isogony growth, biomass allocation, module, ripening stage, allometry growth