pollinatorsimportant in more ways than you might think

Pollination Pollination - When pollen is moved within

flowers or carried from flower to flower by pollinating animals, the wind, or water.

About 80% of all plants are pollinated by biotic pollinators

http://www.pollinator.org/pollination.htmhttp://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/plantstrategies/index.shtml

Pollinators An animal that carries pollen from one

flower to another Pollinators get two things by visiting plants:

1. Nectar - Liquid sugar, a high energy substance

2. Pollen – High protein substance Bees may collect this & feed to their young Other pollinators pick this up unintentionally in

their hair.

Why Plants Need Pollinators The transfer of pollen in and between

flowers of the same species leads to fertilization, and successful seed and fruit production for plants. 

Pollination ensures that a plant will produce full-bodied fruit and a full set of viable seeds.

http://www.pollinator.org/pollination.htm

Did you know? At least 1/3 of all the foods you eat are

dependent upon pollinators. This means that millions of plants are dependent

on pollinators to reproduce!

http://entomology.cornell.edu

Plant Strategies Attracting pollinators is so important

that plants have adapted strategies to attract pollinators to them: Color Form or shape Scent

Invertebrate Pollinators Bees Wasps Beetles Butterflies Moths Flies

Bee Pollinated Plants In the United States, there are over 4,000 species of native

bees.

What a human sees… What a bee sees…

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/bees.shtml

Butterfly Pollinated Plants Butterflies are less efficient than bees at moving pollen between

plants.

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/butterflies.shtml

Moth Pollinated Plants Most moths pollinate the plants at night

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/moths.shtml

Vertebrate Pollinators Bats Hummingbirds Lizards

Bat Pollinated Plants Most moths pollinate the plants at night

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/bats.shtml

Hummingbird Pollinated Plants In the continental United States, hummingbirds are key in

wildflower pollination.

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/birds.shtml

Lizard Pollinated Plants Although uncommon, lizards, skinks, and geckos may be

pollinator

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/unususal.shtml

Checking Up1. Why are pollinators important to the

survival of plants?2. How do plants ensure pollinators will

visit them?3. What do you think would happen if a

plant was pollinated by only one or two species of pollinators?