In honor of the birds and the bees

This week (June 22-28) is the third annual Pollinator's week, sponsored by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign and the Pollinator Partnership. These non-profit organizations assist with the research, awareness, conservation, and public education efforts for this vital life sustaining function. The research efforts are especially important in understanding the dramatic honey bee decline across the globe. Just for fun, I created a little quiz about the week (as part of a short training session for my employees). Here is a truncated version:

1. Who or what is pollination?

a. A peaceful omnivorous communtiy of people called the Polli-ites whose central New Zealand homeland was called the Polli-nation.

b. Bee and wasp anger dance in flowers to ward off predators

c. How pollen grains are moved between two flowers of the same species by animals within a single flower, by wind or animals

d. How pollen grains are moved between flowers of the same species by animals only.

e. None of the above.

2. Worldwide, of the estimated 1,330 crop plants grown for food, beverages, fibers, condiments, spices, and medicines, approximately 1,000 (75%) are pollinated by animals. True or False?

3. A tiny fly no bigger than a pinhead is responsible for the world's supply of chocolate. Midges, tiny flies that live in damp, shady rainforests, are the only animals that can work their way through the complex cacao flower and pollinate it. True or False?

How did you do?

Answers: 1. (d) 2. true 3. true