Pollination Power
What is a pollinator?
An animal that moves pollen from one flower to another, helping plants reproduce.
Which plant must monarch caterpillars eat?
Milkweed.
Name any three of the five pollinator survival-need categories.
Any three: food, water, shelter or habitat, environmental conditions, and reproduction.
What is habitat loss?
The destruction or removal of places organisms need to survive and reproduce.
What is the difference between an annual plant and a perennial plant?
An annual completes its life cycle in one growing season, while a perennial lives for multiple years.
What two flower resources do pollinators most often collect?
Nectar and pollen.
True or false: All bees live in large colonies with a queen.
False. Many native bee species are solitary.
A shallow water dish with landing stones most directly supports which survival need?
Water.
How can drought harm pollinators? List at least 2 ways.
It can reduce available water, flowers, nectar, pollen, and host-plant growth.
True or False: a drought tolerant plant never needs water.
False.
What part of a flower must be transferred for pollination to occur?
Pollen.
What is the difference between a host plant and a nectar plant?
A host plant supports the young life stage, while a nectar plant provides energy-rich nectar to adults.
Bare soil, hollow stems, leaf litter, rocks, and logs most directly support which survival need?
Shelter or habitat, including nesting space.
Name one way pesticides can harm pollinators without immediately killing them.
They can interfere with navigation, feeding, growth, reproduction, immunity, or development.
What is the difference between a native species and a non-native species?
A native species occurs naturally in the region, while a non-native species was introduced from somewhere else.
Why is pollination important to people as well as natural ecosystems?
It helps flowering plants reproduce, including food crops and plants that support food webs.
What does a specialist bee depend on that a generalist bee does not?
A limited group of plants, or sometimes one type of plant, for pollen.
Why can one habitat feature fit into more than one survival-need category?
One feature can serve several functions, such as providing shelter, nesting space, moisture, or protection.
Why can habitat fragmentation be harmful even when some habitat patches remain?
Fragmentation means big gaps between usable habitats. Think cities, roads, etc.
Separated patches can make food, mates, nesting sites, and migration routes harder to reach.
How is an invasive species different from a non-native species? How is it the same?
Both come from somewhere else, but an invasive species spreads aggressively and causes harm.
If a bee visits many flowers but does not carry pollen between them, which part of its ecological job is missing?
Transferring pollen between flowers so fertilization and seed production can occur.
Why could the loss of one plant species be especially dangerous for a specialist bee?
The bee may depend on that plant for pollen, so losing it could remove the food needed for reproduction.
A garden has flowers, water, and nesting spaces but is regularly sprayed with insecticide. Which survival-need category reveals the hidden problem?
Environmental conditions, because the chemicals make the habitat unsafe.
Describe a chain reaction that could result from pollinator decline.
Fewer pollinators can cause less plant reproduction and fewer seeds or fruits, reducing food and habitat for other organisms.
Why is a year-round bloom cycle better for pollinators than a garden that flowers only during spring?
Different pollinators are active at different times, so overlapping bloom periods provide continuous food and reduce seasonal gaps.