pollination ecology Flashcards
where is pollen transferred?
to stigma during pollination
who benefits from pollination
either the plant or pollinator, or both, can be mutually exclusive or balanced
specialization vs generalization
specialized plants are only pollinated by a few while generalized plants are only pollinated by many
Pollinators are also specialized and generalized
self pollination
occurs within plant through wind/water (anemophily/hydrophily)
cross pollination
occurs through biotic agents
ambophily
combination of both wind and insect pollination
wind pollination characteristics
many flowers, small or absent petals, unscented flowers, open habitats, high gene flow, temperate distribution
animal pollination characteristics
few flowers, large petals, scented flowers, styles solid, nectaries present, few pollsn grains, many ovules per flower, low gene flow, occur in tropical climates
what participates in anemophily
grasses, rushes, temperate trees
what is true about grass flower pollen?
It is light and rarely sticky
pollen ovule ratio in wind vs insect pollination
wind ratio is much higher and travels much farther
hydrophily characteristics
flowers are small and inconspicuous, lots of large pollen grains, feathery stigmas, pollen grain may germinate
uncommon
why are pollinators attracted to flowers?
rewards such as nectar which provides sugar and amino acids and pollen which provides protein
nectar content depending on pollinators
bees and flies- oil rich
birds and lepidopteran - starch rich
secondary metabolites and yeast also in nectar
how are pollinators attracted to flowers?
Through shape, color, scent, and sound
floral bract function
act as attractors
nectar guides
show animal where to find nectar, can function through UV light
how do flower colors vary over time?
older flowers fade usually and darken to act as nectar guide to young flowers
how do flowers limit unwanted visits such as nectar robbing?
change in flower shape and varying the reward
buzz pollination
extracting pollen via vibrating anthers at an appropriate frequency, because anthers are sealed except for small pores
coevolution
plant and pollinator are totally dependent on one another
pollination strategy
varies between pollinators based on species and insects, some animals better at pollinating than others (bees pollinate a plant the most that is visited mostly by moths and butterflies)
what is true about scent emission by plants
it can change and evolve in response to local pollinator assemblages
coloration function
functions in defense and attracting pollinators
ploidy level
also impacts pollinator preference
how are pollinators predicted?
by flower color, flower structure, presence of nectar, and odor, (ex. bees are poor at seeing red and prefer large/sticky pollen)
bee pollination
poor at seeing red, prefer sweet and spicy odor, use nectar guides, large and sticky pollen
bird pollination
odor is not as important as visual, pollen is large and sticky, they are sensitive to red, long tubular corolla present to accommodate for long beaks
butterflies pollination
odor is not as important as visual, pollen is sticky and large, diurnal, can see red
moth pollination
white to pale yellow, sweet odor, nocturnal, pollen is large and sticky
bat pollination
nocturnal, odor is fruity/musky
beetle pollination
bowl shaped flowers, odor is important
flies myophily/ sapromyophliy
myophily- pollination of plants by flies
sapromyophily - flowers that look and smell like dung or rotten meat
lemur
world’s largest pollinators, pollinate the traveler’s tree, unique ability to open the trees flowers
