Pollinators: Pollination

Biology

Pollination is the most important event in a plant’s life. Without pollination there is no seed production and proliferation of the species. Some plants depend on wind for pollen transport but the vast majority of plants utilize insects to transport pollen from male parts of flowers to the female parts of flowers to achieve fertilization. Movement of pollen within a flower or between flowers on the same plant is self-pollination; cross-pollination, the movement of pollen between flowers on different plants, is far more common. Pollination by insects ensures efficient and targeted delivery of pollen so it is no surprise that flowering plants compete for the attention of insect visitors using color and sweet nectar to entice them. Colored petals stand out against green foliage and serve as landing platforms for pollinators, while sweet smells waft on wind currents attracting insect visitors for some distance from the flowers. The shape and color patterns of flowers provide passing insects with additional cues. Some flowers have radiating lines or concentric circles often only fully seen under ultra-violet light, which appear to guide insect visitors to the nectar source. Nectar is a source of sugar and water and helps fuel the activities of insects. Some plants do not offer nectar and instead use large amounts of pollen to attract and reward visitors. Pollination is usually a mutualistic process between plant and pollinator, the plant achieving pollination, the pollinator gaining food.