BIOL3711 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Chemical Warfare, Isoprene, Hemicellulose
Pollination
Angiosperm Pollination
Animal Pollination
Overall, 87% of flowering plant species are animal pollinated
Proportion of animal-pollinated species:
o78% - temperate
o94% - tropical
Angiosperm Flowers and Pollination
Inflorescences
oE.g. asteraceae composites (daisy)
Flower shape and size
Flower colour, nectar guides and odor
Rewards:
oNectar, pollen
Deception
E.g. flower mimics, mate mimics
Pseudocopulation:
oVisual and olfactory cues
oOphyrs
Type of flower with a resemblance to females of certain wasps,
bees or flies
oDrakaea
E.g. Hammer orchids look like wasps
Floral Visitors
Pollinators
Nectar and pollen thieves
oNectar robbing
oNectar theft
oPollen robbing
oPollen theft
Floral Pollination Syndromes
Flowers that evolved and vary their type, shape, color, odor, nectar and structure
based on the type of pollinator that visits them
Beetles (not including carrion beetles)
oFlowers white or dull
oScent:
Strong and fruity
oFlat or bowl-shaped
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oReward – nectar and/or pollen
Carrion flies and beetles
oFlowers dull, purple, green, brown
oOdor – decaying protein
oReward – none (deception)
Bees
oFlowers bright, yellow, blue, purple
oScent – sweet
oNectar guides
Markings or patterns that guide pollinators to the reward
oRewards – nectar and pollen
Butterflies
oFlowers bright, often orange, red, yellow
oScent – sweet, weak to moderate
oReward – nectar
E.g. nectar in a tube
Moths
oFlowers often white, pale
oScent – sweet
oReward – nectar
Nectar tube or spur
Birds
oFlowers bright, often red
oTubular (for e.g. hummingbirds)
oScent – usually none
oReward – abundant nectar
Bats
oFlowers drab, pale, green
oScent – strong musty or fermenting odor
oReward – abundant nectar, pollen
oFlowering time – nocturnal
Non-flying Mammal Pollination
Documented cases:
oAustralian marsupials
E.g. proteaceae, myrtaceae
oMadagascar primates
oSouth America primates
Flowers of >85 species visited
Wind Pollination
Production of large amount of pollen
Reduced perianth (sepals and petals)
Exposed stamens
Large, exposed often feathery stamens
Grasses, oaks, birches
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Document Summary
Overall, 87% of flowering plant species are animal pollinated. Proportion of animal-pollinated species: 78% - temperate, 94% - tropical. Pseudocopulation: visual and olfactory cues, ophyrs. Type of flower with a resemblance to females of certain wasps, bees or flies: drakaea. Nectar and pollen thieves: nectar robbing, nectar theft, pollen robbing, pollen theft. Flowers that evolved and vary their type, shape, color, odor, nectar and structure based on the type of pollinator that visits them. Beetles (not including carrion beetles: flowers white or dull, scent: Strong and fruity: flat or bowl-shaped, reward nectar and/or pollen. Carrion flies and beetles: flowers dull, purple, green, brown, odor decaying protein, reward none (deception) Bees: flowers bright, yellow, blue, purple, scent sweet, nectar guides. Markings or patterns that guide pollinators to the reward: rewards nectar and pollen. Butterflies: flowers bright, often orange, red, yellow, scent sweet, weak to moderate, reward nectar. Moths: flowers often white, pale, scent sweet, reward nectar.