Question

Angiosperms are such a successful group of plants because of how well they recruit animals for pollination and the diverse way they disperse their seeds. Describe two ways animals spread angiosperm pollen and two ways fruit is dispersed.

Answer 1

Animals can be very important to plant reproduction in two ways—spreading pollen and spreading seeds. Pollen contains a plant’s sperm.

Answer 2

Angiosperms thrive due to effective animal pollination and diverse seed dispersal mechanisms. Two ways animals spread angiosperm pollen are through wind and animal vectors like insects. For seed dispersal, two methods include animals consuming fruits and excreting seeds elsewhere (endozoochory) and seeds attaching to animals for transportation (epizoochory).

Step-by-step explanation:

Angiosperms, or flowering plants, have evolved successful strategies for reproduction and dispersal. Animal pollination is crucial, with wind and animals, especially insects, serving as carriers of pollen between flowers. This enhances genetic diversity and reproductive success.

For seed dispersal, endozoochory involves animals consuming fruits, and seeds pass through their digestive systems before being deposited in new locations. Epizoochory occurs when seeds attach to the fur or feathers of animals, facilitating transport to different areas. These adaptive strategies contribute to angiosperms' ecological success.