Question

Which of the following are the important floral rewards to the animal pollinators?
A. Floral fragrance and calcium crystals
B. Protein pellicle and stigmatic exudates
C. Colour and size of flower
D. Nectar and pollen grain

Answer 1

Hint: Flowering plants need to get pollen from one flower to another, either within a plant for self-pollination or between plants of the same species for cross-pollination to occur. However, pollen cant move on its own, so animals or the wind (and water in rare cases) move the pollen for plants.

Complete Answer:
Let us analyse each given option to find out the correct answer.

Floral fragrance is a signal that directs pollinators to a particular flower. Plants that maximize their output during the day are primarily pollinated by bees or butterflies, whereas those that release their fragrance mostly at night are pollinated by moth and bats. Colours can't be seen in the dark, so the scent is important for flowers that are pollinated by night-flying insects such as moths.

Protein pellicle and stigmatic exudates are not the floral rewards to the animal pollinators.

Flowers use colours to attract insects, sometimes helped by coloured guiding marks. Flowers are often shaped to provide a landing platform for visiting insects or to force them to brush against anthers and stigmas. Some flowers have a scent to attract insects. The colors of a flower attract pollinators therefore, the brighter the flower, the more likely it will be visited. Flower color significance also depends on the specific pollinator.

Nectar and pollen grains are important floral rewards to the animal pollinators such as moths, butterflies, wasps, bees, birds, etc. They visit the flowers for nectars, edible pollen grains, and shelter. Besides edible floral parts, young seeds are also rewarded for the pollinators. In turn, while visiting flowers, they come in contact and adhere to pollen grain and bring about pollination.

Thus, the correct option is D Nectar and pollen grain.

Note: It is to be noted that some birds, such as stitchbirds and bellbirds, have special brush-like tips to their tongues to help them soak up the nectar. It is not just the animal which is benefitted, but even the flower is benefitted, as the animals help in dispersal of seeds and pollen grains. This method of pollination is known as zoophily.