How Do Bees Transport Pollen? (BioE80 Spr2015)
May 26, 2015 • 7:05 PM UTC
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wroper
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Bee’s are known as one of nature’s most prolific pollinators. In their quest for nectar they somehow manage to transport the pollen used in reproduction of plants. Our question is how bees actually transport the pollen.
The purple flowers we were studying had attracted a host of bees. Doing some research online, we determined that these bright purple flowers along with their smell attracted the bees due to the bee’s ability to see UV light which is very close to the purple on the spectrum.
The purple flowers we were studying had attracted a host of bees. Doing some research online, we determined that these bright purple flowers along with their smell attracted the bees due to the bee’s ability to see UV light which is very close to the purple on the spectrum.
We first checked where the pollen was in the plants, and how the bees get to it. To find where the substance was we took pictures of some cross sections of the flower.
We selected our specimen out of the many bees surrounding the flowers and immobilized it. The bee’s leg which we examined under the microscope was covered in a yellow substance that we assumed was pollen.
We found that the legs were covered in tiny little hairs which seemed to be responsible for capturing and carrying all the pollen. The bees, in the pursuit of nectar, must have rubbed their legs in this substance. The bright purple flowers captures the bees’ attention and, in turn, the bees’ capture the flowers pollen. It’s fascinating to learn about these animals that have such a critical part in our ecosystem. These tiny bugs are all around us and gaining an insight into how they play their role can help us better understand the world around us.
Contributors Shawn Fenerin and Walter Roper
Contributors Shawn Fenerin and Walter Roper
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