Flowering Plants: Pollination

    I. Pollination and Fertilization
            A. Flower = reproductive organ of flowering plants.
            B. Pollination = the transfer of pollen from the male anther to the female stigma of a carpel.  Pollination occurs BEFORE fertilization.
    II. Sexual reproduction aids in evolution because it produces variable offspring upon which natural selection works.
            A. Sexual reproduction is advantageous only if an organism mates with someone other than itself.  This process is called outcrossing or cross pollination.
            B. Most flowering plants have perfect flowers = both male and female parts are on the same individual flower and so they self pollinate = transfer of pollen from the anther to stigma within the same
                flower.
            C. However, it is more desirable for a plant to have imperfect flowers = a unisex flower (has stamens and no carpels; or has carpels and no stamens).  Male and female parts are on separate
                individual flowers.
            D. Imperfect flowers allow for cross pollination with other plants which helps to increase genetic diversity
    III. Many flowering plants have evolved special ways to promote outcrossing or cross pollination and prevent self-crossing or self pollination:
            A. have stamens and carpels mature at different times
            B. floral structural arrangement is configured to reduce the chance that pollinators will transfer pollen from anthers to the stigma of the same flower.
            C. be self incompatible = the rejection of pollen by the stigma of the same plant.
            D. However, imperfect flowers are the BEST method that plants use to promote outcrossing.
    IV. Coevolution = a reciprocal evolutionary response among two or more interacting species; example: flower and animal pollinator.
            A. Insects and animals pollinators  (SEEN IN VIDEO)
            B. Mimicry: flowers that have evolved to resemble female insects.  Example: Orchid that looks like a female wasp insect.
 
 
 

                                                       Coevolution of flowers and their pollinators:

                                Flower color                        Flower odor            Flower shape                            Nectar/Pollen

Bees                      yellow, blue, UV                  sweet odor               broad ‘landing platform’          yes

Butterflies             red                                         sweet odor              tubular                                      yes

Moths/Bats         white                                      strong odor              tubular                                      yes

Flies                     reddish brown/purple            foul odor                 complex funnel trap                  none

Beetles                 white/green                           strong odor              large                                         none

Birds (honey         red                                        none                         long tubular                              yes
& humming)                                                                                         and with a perch

Wind                     no color                                none                        small                                           none
 
 
 
 
 

Fill in the answers as you watch the pollination video:

The vivid colors, symmetry, and brightness of petals and interesting scents from flowers are evolutionary designs not for people, but to attract pollinators to visit flowers.  The result of such visits is often a reward of nectar (sugary water); in exchange, the insect will fly away carrying pollen to a different flower.  This fine-tuned relationship between the flower and the pollinator guarantees that sexual reproduction continues between plants, which are stuck in place and are not able to roam about to select a mate.
 

I. Wind pollination

    A. The source of human affliction with regard to ‘hay fever’ and other allergies are ___________ .

    B. Pollen released from grass plants such as grains are carried by the __________.
 

II. Flowers

    A. Most plants combine male and female structures into _______ flower.

    B. _________ are advertisements to attract animals that carry pollen from one flower to another.

    C.  ___________________ enriches the genetic inheritance of the seeds that will soon form and increases the variability and likelihood that some will survive changes in the environment.
 

III. Bird Pollinators

    A. Many bird pollinated flowers are ________  (what color?)

    B. Red flowers are unlikely to have a scent because birds lack the sense of ___________ .
 

IV. Bat pollinators

    A. Bats pollinate flowers at ____________ .
 

V. Insect pollinators

    A. Bumble bees transfer pollen from flower to flower in exchange for____________  from the flower.

    B. Hover flies can reach nectar utilizing their long  ______________  (a feeding implement).

    C. Orchids have a special way of rationing their pollen; they parcel it up into packets called _____________ .

    D. Some flies pollinate flowers that smell like rotting ____________ .