All organisms reproduce – and among organisms, plants reproduce in the most diverse ways.. Most plants require pollen to be moved between flowers, a feat accomplished by wind, water, and animals ranging from insects to fish to birds and mammals. Studies of pollination are revealing how interactions among species weave ecosystems together. In this talk, I’ll introduce the weird and wonderful world of pollination by highlighting the natural history of some of our iconic native plants, from the Sonoran Desert to the top of Mount Lemmon. I’ll also discuss actions we can take to help secure the future of pollination.
A halictine bee gathers pollen from anthers of a small Gilia flower.
