QUESTION

Medium

Environment & Ecology

Prelims 2012

Consider the following kinds of organisms :

  1. Bat
  2. Bee
  3. Bird

Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts of a flower of the same species, which results in fertilization and the production of seeds.

Bats are known to be pollinators, especially of tropical and desert plants. When they feed on the nectar of these plants, pollen sticks to their bodies and is transferred to other flowers as the bat moves around.

Bees are perhaps the most well-known pollinators. They collect nectar and pollen for food, and in the process, they transfer pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma.

Certain birds, like hummingbirds, also play a role in pollination. They feed on the nectar of certain flowers, and like bees and bats, pollen sticks to their bodies and is transferred to other flowers.

Therefore, all three organisms listed - bats, bees, and birds - are pollinating agents.

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