Abstract Identifying the mechanisms that drive invasions of open habitats by woody species is critical for preserving diverse savannas. Trees can promote the establishment of bird-dispersed woody plant species in savannas by reducing dispersal limitation. Previous work in wet pine savannas has shown that densities of bird-dispersed shrubs are higher and species richness of herbaceous species, most of which are not bird-dispersed, is lower in areas near trees. To test the hypothesis that shrub seedling density in wet pine savannas was limited by dispersal and thus the availability of perches for seed-dispersing birds, seed traps and artificial perches were placed near and away from pines. To measure fire-induced mortality of trees and shrubs, Pinus elliottii juveniles and shrub seedlings that had emerged during a fire-free interval were quantified before and after fires. Trees provided perches for birds that dispersed shrubs, thereby reducing dispersal limitation of shrubs. Significantly more seeds of the ...