April showers bring May flowers—and their pollinators. Many angiosperms, i.e., flowering plants, depend upon animals for species survival. If pollination fails, no new seeds (or fruits) are produced, genetic diversity declines, and the plant population could become threatened. Plants have various adaptations that increase the likelihood of successful pollination. Some require insect pollinators, some bird, and some bat; other pollinators include lizards, slugs, and even small marsupials. The wide variety of plant pollinators offers wonderful examples of the diversity and adaptations of organisms, aligning with the middle school Life Science content standards of the National Science Education Standards.

These resources provide intriguing still and video images of pollinators at work around the world, highlighting not only their adaptations but their economic importance as well.

Biology of Plants: Pollination
From the Missouri Botanical Gardens, this web site covers the basics of pollination. It explains how animals and wind carry pollen from plant to plant, along with how plants produce seeds after being pollinated. A slow-motion video clip shows a hummingbird collecting nectar from a flower and in turn pollinating it. Students can click on links to find more information on individual pollinators, such as bees and moths, or to sing a song about pollination.

Declining Bee Population Threatens Major Growers
This news feature from National Public Radio provides a beekeeper’s engaging, personal story, which can be both heard and read to learn more about the crops dependent on bees for pollination.

Celebrating Wildflowers: Our Future Flies on the Wings of Pollinators
This site from the U.S. Forest Service explains the importance of pollination and profiles many of the animals that serve as pollinators. A section on unusual pollinators features lemurs, honey possums, lizards, geckos, and skinks.

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