Question

Some plants need insects or birds to help them successfully reproduce. Why do they need these animals? How do they attract these animals? How do these animals help the plants reproduce? Use evidence from the article to support your answer.

Answer 1

Plants need animals for pollination because they help transfer pollen, essential for plant fertilization. Plants attract pollinators with brightly colored flowers, strong scents, and nectar. Pollinators contribute to genetic diversity and seed production for plants.

Step-by-step explanation:

Why Do Some Plants Require Animals for Reproduction?

Many plant species, specifically over 80 percent of angiosperms, involve animals in their sexual reproductive process. These plants utilize various adaptations to attract and utilize pollinators such as birds, bees, and butterflies. The main reason for this is that animals facilitate the transfer of pollen from the male part of the flower (the anther) to the female part (the stigma), which is essential for the fertilization and production of seeds.

Attraction Mechanisms

Flowering plants have evolved to attract pollinators through visual and olfactory cues. They produce vibrant petals and secrete nectar, a sweet and nutritious substance that serves as food for these animals. Furthermore, some flowers can reflect ultraviolet light, which is perceivable by many insects, guiding them to the flower's center for efficient pollen transfer.

Pollinators’ Role in Plant Reproduction

As pollinators move from flower to flower seeking nectar, they inadvertently pick up pollen and deposit it on subsequent flowers, accomplishing pollination. This process ensures genetic diversity and leads to the production of seeds for the next generation of plants. For instance, large, red, funnel-shaped flowers tend to be pollinated by hummingbirds, while white, nocturnal flowers are typically pollinated by moths.

It's vital that these interactions between plants and their pollinators continue unobstructed, as any disruption, like the disappearance of bees through colony collapse disorder, could have severe consequences for ecosystems and human agriculture that relies on pollinated crops.

Answer 2

Many flowering plants have separate male and female flowers. Therefore, they need help transferring the pollen from one flower to another, so they rely on pollinators to help with pollination. A pollinator is an animal, such as an insect or a bird, that transfers pollen from flower to flower. Plants have flowers that attract pollinators in many ways. They produce nectar that birds such as hummingbirds eat. They have bright colors, "nectar guides,” and patterns that look like bull’s-eyes to guide insects, such as bees, into the flower. Once the animal is inside the flower, it gets covered with sticky grains of pollen. As the animal moves from flower to flower, pollen brushes off onto the stigmas of other flowers. Fertilization can then occur to produce seeds.

Step-by-step explanation:

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