Animal pollinators refer to animals, such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, that help plants reproduce. They transfer pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts, leading to the growth of fruits, seeds, and new plants. These animals play a crucial role in the process of pollination, ensuring the survival of many plant species and supporting our ecosystem.
Full definition
Over 80 percent of all flowering plant species and over three - quarters of the major world crops rely
on animal pollinators.
Most flowering plants need
animal pollinators in order to reproduce, and bees serve that role for many important crops — including fruits, pulses, some vegetables and alfalfa — many of which were themselves introduced to the United States.
Insects and
other animal pollinators are vital to the production of healthy crops for food, fibers, edible oils, medicines, and other products.
«Our study shows that human disturbance negatively affects the early steps of the plant regeneration cycle, while the effects on the later regeneration processes vary greatly,» concludes Neuschulz, and she adds, «Our findings suggest that conservation efforts should prioritize the protection
of animal pollinators and seed dispersers to maintain the regeneration potential of forest ecosystems in the future.»
Together, the findings suggest that a simple color change may have played a major role in
switching animal pollinators for some plants, Bradshaw says.
Disruptions and declines in
animal pollinators could increase global mortality by 2.7 percent, leading to 1.4 million more deaths annually.
For the first time, they combined these models with data on interactions of plants with
their animal pollinators and seed dispersers.
Gegear says the study offers a new perspective on prevailing theories about how plants evolve to manipulate
their animal pollinators.
Most flowering plants and many of the world's food crops depend on
animal pollinators to reproduce.