Question

In Chiropterophily, pollination is performed by
a. Bats
b. Birds
c. Squirrels
d. Insects

Answer 1

Hint: Chiropterophily is the type of pollination which occurs in night blooming flowers. These flowers also attract animals for the nectar. Various types of animals act as pollinating agents such as bats, insects, birds, etc. Bats have evolved ways to find and harvest the sweet liquid or nectar in the flowers.

Complete answer:
• Pollination is the process of transferring pollen grains from the male part (anther) of a flower to the female part (stigma). It is very important for the fusion of male and female gametes.
• The pollen grains can be transferred from another by various agents. These can be biotic and abiotic. The biotic agents include insects, birds, bats and other animals. The abiotic agents include wind, water, etc.
• In Chiropterophily, pollination is performed by bats. The flowers which show this type of pollination are called Chiropterophilous flowers. For example: Adansonia, Kigellia, Bauhinia, Anthocephalus, etc. It is most common in tropical and desert areas that have many night-blooming plants.
• The type of pollination which occurs by insects is called Entomophily. They sit on the flowers for the nectar and pollen grains sticks on their feet and reaches to the stigma of other flowers.
• Squirrels also help in pollination of pollen grains but there is no specific term given to such pollination.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Pollination mainly occurs in two types: Self pollination and cross pollination. Self pollination refers to the transfer of the pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same flower or the stigma of a different flower on the same plant. Cross pollination occurs between two different flowers or plants. It can occur in Zoophilous flowers, anemophilous flowers and entomophilic flowers.