Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anthers (male structures) to the stigma (female receptive surface) of flowers, enabling fertilization and subsequent seed and fruit formation in seed plants. It can occur via abiotic vectors such as wind and water or biotic agents including insects, birds, bats, and other animals. Pollination biology investigates floral traits, plant–pollinator interactions, pollen viability and compatibility, and temporal/spatial patterns of pollen flow. It is central to studies of plant reproduction, gene flow, population genetics, coevolution, and community ecology, and underpins many agroecological and conservation research programs focused on pollinator services and plant reproductive success.
Can students be on the front lines of conservation? A new Canada-wide study, published in Metabarcoding and Metagenomics, suggests they can. The efforts of some 5,000 students produced data detailed enough to reveal complex ...
Ecology
Feb 23, 2026
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11
Mexican long-nosed bats have a taste for agave, their tongues designed to lap up the famous desert plant's nectar during nightly flights. It's not just a means of satisfying taste buds. It's a matter of fueling up for an ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 3, 2026
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48
Insects are often seen as invaders due to high-profile species like the yellow-legged (Asian) hornet, the harlequin ladybird and fire ant. But new research reveals insects are also major victims of invasive alien species—exacerbating ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 15, 2026
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319
Humans like plants. We like seeing them change the color of their leaves throughout the year. They connect us to nature even if we live in a big city. But most people don't think that much about the lives of plants, and least ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 5, 2026
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28
A monitoring system devised by the University of Cordoba ascertains the flowering stages of each hive, with high precision, exploiting data on bees' behavior.
Biotechnology
Dec 2, 2025
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23
To the casual observer, it's nothing more than an abandoned golf course. But the land, along with other weedy, minimally maintained "marginal lands" in the Puget Sound area, is home to scores of wild bee species, including ...
Plants & Animals
Nov 12, 2025
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19
Researchers have gained new insights into the genetic basis of rye reproduction. They have demonstrated how plants recombine their genes and the extent to which this process is influenced by environmental factors such as ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Nov 3, 2025
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27
Using information on alpine plant species, researchers investigated how the chemistry of flowers' scent affects not only the diversity of insect pollinators but also the communities of bacteria living on the flowers.
Ecology
Oct 22, 2025
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167
Solar farms could become important refuges for bumblebees in Britain, a new study reveals—though their benefits only go so far.
Plants & Animals
Oct 8, 2025
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55
New research from the University of Waikato shows how nectar supply varies with changes to climate, offering sweet insights for industry and conservation alike.
Plants & Animals
Oct 3, 2025
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