Chapter 55, Problem 1Q

Summary Introduction

To review:

The type of interaction that operates between bees and plants and the necessity of the plant flowering to be closely related to the bee emergence.

Introduction:

Various communities of species interact with other communities in a positive way. The positive interactions occur only when one of the species provide shelter or food to the other. The positive interaction also occurs when both the species provide either food or shelter to the other species. The bees help in the pollination of plants and plants, in turn, provide them with rewards like nectar. This means that their interaction is positive in nature.

Explanation of Solution

The type of interaction between bees and flowering plants is of positive nature. Such type of interaction is also called a mutual interaction. The bees help in the pollination, which helps the dispersal of the various plant species. In an experiment that was conducted in North America, it was observed that by removing the bees, the flowering plants reduced greatly in number. The time of emergence of bees and the flowering of plants must be closely correlated. When the queen bee lays eggs, the nurse bees collect the nectar to provide nutrients to the developing bees. At this time most of the pollination occurs because while collecting nectar, the legs, and the wings of the bees are rubbed with pollens. When bees travel from one flower to another, the pollens are shed on to the different plants, which result in pollination. The bees have been observed to pollinate many plants and hence it has attracted the attention of many environmentalists to prevent the use of strong pesticides on their flowering plants.

Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that a mutual interaction exists between bees and flowering plants and that the emergence of bees must be closely correlated to the flowering so that bees could pollinate the different flowers and help in the dispersal of the plant species.