Pollination is the transfer of pollen from a male part of a plant to a female part of a plant, later enabling fertilization and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind.
So how does pollen get from one flower to another?
Well…flowers have to rely on vectors to move pollen. These vectors can include wind, water, birds, insects, butterflies, bats, and other animals that visit flowers. We call animals or insects that transfer pollen from plant to plant “pollinators”.
Honey Bees Are Pollinators. Crop yield and quality would be greatly reduced without honey bee pollination. As honey bees gather pollen and nectar for their survival, they pollinate crops such as apples, cranberries, melons, blueberries, and broccoli.
Pollination is basically the unintended consequence of an animal’s activity on a flower. The pollinator is usually minding its own business eating or collecting pollen for its protein and other nutritional needs or it is sipping nectar from the flower when pollen grains attach themselves to the animal’s body. When the animal visits another flower for the same reason, pollen can fall off onto the flower’s stigma and may result in successful reproduction of the flower.
Timothy Paule, a 2005 initiate of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. at Wayne State University and Nicole Lindsey, a 2006 initiate of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Oakland University, have created a nonprofit called Detroit Hives with the mission to repurpose vacant land into urban bee farms for the community.
Not only will this project preserve the conservation of honey bees, but it will help eliminate some of the blight within the city of Detroit providing a positive outcome for them for the negatively viewed vacant lots that have contributed to crime, mental health, physical injuries and an attraction to rodents. The project also serves as an educational hub where they provide tours and pollinator education for the community.
Personally, I love what they’re doing! When I was younger I used to think the sole purpose for bees was to make honey. Then I learned about pollinators. Working in the Office of Pesticide Programs, I’ve really learned the importance of pollination. 1/3 of our global food supply is pollinated by bees. Simply put, bees keep plants and crops alive. Without them, human food supplies will be greatly affected/effected (eff y’all I still struggle with affect/effect so pick the right one).
Due to climate change, Honeybees mayBEE Dying in Larger Numbers. Beekeepers in the U.S. reported an increase in honeybee deaths over the last year, possibly the result of erratic weather patterns brought on by a changing climate, according to the scientist leading an annual survey on the insects. Gots to BEE moe’ careful. #BEEowt #BEEaScientist #BEEdope Beee aggressive! Bee bee aggressive 😂😂😂 I’m so corny! #itwerkforscience #BEEaTwerker #ForTheCulture #BEEfortheculture
