Pollinators provide their services to us totally free of charge!įigure 1. Even coffee and chocolate would be less plentiful without pollinators. Without pollinators we wouldn't have abundant blueberries, apples, peaches, tomatoes, squash, and watermelon, to name just a few. Pollinators are also responsible for many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that provide vital nutrition for our families. The different flower shapes, color patterns, and scents are all part of the plant's efforts to attract pollinators. They offer pollen, an important source of protein, and nectar, a concentrated sugar solution, to lure insect pollinators. Plants work hard to attract their pollinators and offer them rewards. Bees are the most important movers of pollen, assisted by flies, beetles, wasps, butterflies, and moths. Who does the work of moving pollen? Various animals can do this task, but insects do most of the work of moving pollen. Many other plants, however, have heavy, sticky pollen that must be physically picked up from one plant and moved to a different plant. Some plants have very lightweight, smooth pollen that is easily blown by the wind from one plant to another. Genetic diversity plays an important role in the adaptability and survivability of a species. Cross-pollination is preferable to self-pollination because it produces more genetic diversity in plant populations. When the pollen transfer happens within the same flower, it is called “self-pollination." When it occurs between different flowers, it is “cross-pollination" (Figure 1). The result is the production of fertile seeds. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anthers of a flower to the stigma of the same flower or another flower.
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