What can happen to seeds that animals forget to retrieve after collecting?

When animals collect seeds and forget to retrieve them, those seeds have the potential to germinate in their hiding spots. This process is beneficial for plant propagation as it allows the seeds to take root and grow into new plants in areas away from the parent plant.

Many plants have developed this relationship with animals, known as seed dispersal. The seeds that are buried in the ground can benefit from the right conditions such as moisture, nutrients, and suitable light exposure to sprout. The act of being buried also protects the seeds from some predators and environmental stresses, aiding their chances of survival and establishing new plant growth in the ecosystem.

The other options, while representing possible outcomes of seed storage, do not capture the key aspect of seed germination in the context of this scenario where seeds are left unretrieved by animals.