A Stochastic Model to Predict Seed Dispersal in Linear and Stokes Waves

ABSTRACT Plant cultivation is utilized in coastal ecological restoration to cope with shrinking wetlands, and, benefiting from hydrochory, disseminating indigenous plant seeds represents a high‐efficiency strategy. Random displacement model (RDM) is an efficient alternative to simulate seed dispersal progress via wave. Consequently, we investigated the effect of seed properties and wave characteristics on seeds motion in waves by RDM. Errors between the theoretical comprehensive longitudinal diffusion coefficient of the solute and the simulated one by RDM within an acceptable range indicate that the model is applicable for further simulation of particle dispersal in waves. Simulation results demonstrated that seeds with smaller size and density can transport farther in waves; larger wave heights, smaller water depths and longer wavelengths in linear waves and larger relative wave heights and smaller relative water depths in Stokes waves all promote longitudinally seed diffusion. Finally fitting formulas were proposed for the longitudinal propagation position (including mean and variance) of seed dispersal in linear and Stokes waves. Although this work can provide certain scientific guidance for the restoration of coastal vegetation ecology through natural colonization, there is still much work that needs to be conducted to further the research.