Coevolution of plant-herbivores, Biology

Assignment Help:

There has been a perfect coevolution between plants and herbivorous animals. This has often developed into a mutually beneficial relationship. Whereas the plants have proved to be a good source of food for animals such as insects, birds and certain mammals, these animals in turn have been of great help to plants for dispersal of pollen and seeds. More specifically plants offer insects both nectar and pollen as food and insects in turn have developed olfactory, visual and structural adaptations for pollination as well as for seed dispersal. To attract pollinators, flowers have attractive colours and smell sweet as well. It is interesting to note that certain flies are attracted towards bad odours emanated by substances such as putrescin and cadaverine. The relationship developed between insect pollinators and entomophilous plants is an excellent example of coevolutionary process. Several instances involving insect pollinators and plants belonging to the families Malvaceae, Papilionacea and Labiatae could be cited. One study related to the gcnus Pedicularis (louse wort) and its pollinators, the bumble bee (Bombus) stands out. Certain species of louse wort such as P. canadensis and P. crenulata are pollinated nototribically, which means that bumble bees pick up the pollen grains from the plant on iheir notum (the dorsal 'sclerite of the insect). The insects get a generous brushing on their dorsal side from the stamens of the flowers as shown and on their visit to a next flower deposit the pollen on the stigma. Certain other species such as P. groenlandia pollinate sternotribically which means that the pollen is picked up by insects on their sternum (ventral selerites of insects) as depicted in Fig and then transferred to the stigma of the flower. What is to be appreciated in the coevolutionary process is the close correspondence between the structure of the flower and the structure and behaviour of insects involved.


Related Discussions:- Coevolution of plant-herbivores

Aeolian-transported soil, Aeolian Wind transported materials constitute...

Aeolian Wind transported materials constitute this category. This can be further divided into dunes or loess. Dunes are found in thr& types of situations. Fitly, these may occu

26 The Human Impact on the Environment, What are the principal sources of e...

What are the principal sources of excessive nitrate and phosphate in rivers and lakes?

Explain cardiac prophylactic antibiotics, Cardiac Prophylactic antibiot...

Cardiac Prophylactic antibiotics can decrease the incidence of infection after cardiac surgery, and intraoperative redosing has been associated with adecreased risk of postoper

Ram ventilation, Ram Ventilation Some fish do not use pumping action f...

Ram Ventilation Some fish do not use pumping action for gill ventilation. It has been known for long that large tunas cannot be kept alive in captivity unless they are put in

What are colonies and societies, Q. What are colonies and societies? Th...

Q. What are colonies and societies? The Colonies are functional integrated aggregates formed by individuals of the similar species. The Colonies are often confused with a singl

Explain the types of surgery, Explain the Types of surgery ? Primary re...

Explain the Types of surgery ? Primary repair of ventricular septal defect has to be done whenever possible. III complex malformations associated with large VSD, pulmonary arte

Littoral zone, Littoral Zone Plants of the littoral zone Two types ...

Littoral Zone Plants of the littoral zone Two types of plants occur here: Non-rooted phytoplanktons which include all kinds of algae occurring in the limnetic as wel

How to compare and contrast acids, Compare and contrast acids and bases in ...

Compare and contrast acids and bases in terms of their H+ ion and OH- ion concentrations.

Define determinants of food security - vulnerability, Define Determinants o...

Define Determinants of Food Security - Vulnerability? It is the fourth critical variable and defines the risk factor to which a person, family, community or nation is exposed o

What is st segment depression at rest, Q. What is ST segment depression at ...

Q. What is ST segment depression at rest? ST- segment depression has become severe, that is, 3 to 4mm or more in vigorous asymptomatic subjects. If the patient is known to have

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd