Pollination

After the gametophytes have developed, pollination occurs. Most gymnosperms and some angiosperms are win-pollinated by animals. These animals, mainly insects, birds and bats carry pollen from one flower to another. Because wind pollination is less efficient than animal pollination, wind-pollinated plants, such as the oak tree rely on favorable weather and sheer numbers to get pollen from one plant to another. Animal-pollinated plants have a variety of adaptions, such as bright colors and sweet nectar to attract animals. Animals have developed behaviors to help them find flowers. They have also evolved body shapes that enable them to reach nectar deep w/in certain flowers.

Pollen on a Bee

Insect pollination is adaptive because it increases the fitness of both organisms. It is beneficial to insects and other animals because it provides a dependable source of food. The food may take the form of pollen itself or the sugar-rich liquid called nectar. Plants also benefit because the insects take their pollen directly from flower to flower. Insect pollination is much more efficient than wind pollination, giving insect-pollinated plants a higher probability of reproductive success In fact, many plant biologists suggest that the angiosperms displaced the gymnosperms so throughly during the past 100 in part becaue of insect pollination.