Importance of pollination

Let’s start explaining What is pollination. It is a biological process in which pollen is transported from the male structures of the flower to female structures. The Pollen transfer It can take place:

• In the same flower: process known as autogamia or autopolinization.
• Between flowers of the same plant: process called Geitonogamia.
• Between flowers of different plants: process called alogamia or cross pollination.

Types of pollination

Next, we present a classification based on the different Polynizer agentsthese are, both biotic and abiotic factors that facilitate pollination. Among them we find:

• Wind pollination, known as anemophilia.
• Insect pollination, called entomophilia.
• Bird pollination, called ornithophilia.
• Bats by bats or chiropterophilia.
• Water pollination, named as hydrogation.

In this other article you can learn much more about what pollination and its types are. In addition, below you can watch a video on this topic.

Now that we know what pollination is, let’s know what its purpose is in the biology of plants. Through pollination processthe plant starts with its Reproductive cycle That, after a while, culminates with the development of fruits with their respective seeds, which will germinate and originate new seedlings.

Thus, pollination allows plants reproduction; However, it is not the only type of reproduction that exists, since seed formation is possible without pollination. This phenomenon is known as Apomixis.

We recommend you read these other ecology articles about the reproduction of plants and plants that reproduce sexually.

Another frequent doubts when this theme is treated is Why is pollination for the environment important. Faced with this questioning, we must bear in mind that organisms are not isolated entities, but are related to each other through multiple interactions that together form complex interaction networks.

In particular, pollination is a Mutualist interactionin which both parties benefit: the plant reproduces and manages to perpetuate itself and the pollinating agent, if it is a living being, whether insects or other Polynizer animalsget food. For this reason, pollination is a fundamental process that contributes to Maintain biodiversity and ensures the functioning and stability of ecosystems.

We encourage you to learn more reading these other posts about mutualism: definition and examples and ecosystem in equilibrium: what is and how it is maintained.

The pollination carried out by bees is undoubtedly the best known example of pollinating insects. Such is the case that the process presents its own name: Melitophilia.

The Importance of bees pollination It is that, due to their behavior, they frequently visit a large amount flowers, which positions them as efficient pollinating agents, compared to others. In addition, they are considered the best adapted group to the floral visit and by the large number of species and their abundance are essential for pollination. Even Albert Einstein once said “If the bees disappear, man would have 4 years on earth“, although the phrase sounds a bit drastic, the preservation of bees species is essential for the conservation of ecosystems and our life on earth.

To inform you more about this issue, we recommend you read these other articles about how honey, plants and flowers that attract bees and why some species of bees are in danger of extinction.

After reading the previous sections you must already understand the Importance of pollinators. In recent decades, pollinator populations have mainly decreased due to the misuse of pesticides and monoculture. There are also other factors that contribute to the decrease in their populations, such as the loss and fragmentation of habitats and climate change.

Today, there are alternatives against the Lack of pollinators. One of them is the Artificial pollinationproduced only by the hand of man. In this type of pollination, the pollen of the male reproductive structures of the flower is collected through brushes, it is moved to the female reproductive structures and then the flower is covered to continue with its reproductive cycle. It is worth clarifying that while the technique is useful, the conservation of pollinating species is essential in pursuit of the proper functioning and balance of ecosystems.

It is curious to think that Human well -being is linked to the pollination process. This statement is not only accurate, but is originated for several reasons. First, our quality of life is directly related to the health of the environment we inhabit. In this sense, the pollination process is essential since, as mentioned above, it contributes to the stability of ecosystems.

On the other hand, and not least, agricultural production is closely linked to the pollination process, particularly the production of horticultural and forage crops, since these crops need to be pollinated. In fact, it is estimated that 35 % of the world’s agricultural crops require pollination to achieve profitable production and that in 70 % of crops an improvement in their production has been noticed due to pollinating agents. This reveals the importance of pollination in agriculture, also Economic importance of pollinationas well as the pollinating agents, since they depend on them, in some magnitude, the diversity of food, their price and human nutrition.

Now that you have already learned what the importance of the pollination of flowers is encouraged to continue discovering more about the plant world reading these other articles about what are the parts of a flower and its functions and what is the nectar and its function, because thanks to this the pollinators go to the flowers, since the nectar is their food, and they take the flower pollen in flower.

If you want to read more articles similar to Importance of pollinationwe recommend that you enter our biology category.