RESOURCES Coastal Plain Pollinators
What is pollination ?
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts of a flower of the same species , which results in fertilization of plant ovaries and the production of seeds .
What does a pollinator do ?
Pollinators are animals , primarily insect , but sometimes birds or mammals that fertilize plants , resulting in the formation of seeds and the fruit surrounding seeds . Pollinators are essential to our environment . The ecological service they provide is necessary for the reproduction of over 85 % of the world ’ s flowering plants , including more than two-thirds of the world ’ s crop species . Pollinating insects also play a critical role in maintaining natural plant communities and ensuring production of seeds in most flowering plants .