1. Reproductive Strategies
Plants

2. Plant Reproduction Reproduction in Flowering Plants and Conifers
The process of pollination
The reproductive cells in these plants are the eggs and pollen produced at particular times of the year.
The eggs remain on the plants. The pollen is transferred to the egg.

3. Strategies to ensure pollen transfer
Because plants are fixed in one location they have evolved strategies to ensure their pollen grains are transferred.
Pollen may be transferred by the following means;
Insects (beetles, flies, bees, butterflies)
Birds of many species
Mammals (bats, small rodents, honey possums)

4. Strategies to ensure pollen transfer
Wind pollination
Pollen of all conifers and some flowering plants is carried by the wind
Pollen carried by the wind is small, smooth and very light
Flowering plants that are wind pollinated
Do not have brightly coloured flowers
Have pollen producing organs (stamens) exposed to the wind
Have feathery stigmas to catch passing pollen grains
Wind pollination is affected by climate

5. Strategies to ensure pollen transfer
Most flowering plants are pollinated by insects, birds or mammals
Animals that are the carriers of pollen are called vectors
Flowering plants attract and reward their vectors

6. Which vector? Insect-pollinated flowers
Blue or purple or yellow as these colours are visible to insects
May have a platform shape for landing
May have a scent to mimic something to attract an insect. Eg rotting meat

7. Which vector? Insect-pollinated flowers
Usually have nectaries inside the flower producing sugar-rich nectar attracting insects
Often have ultraviolet reflecting white or yellow dots or lines to signal the presence of flowers (insects can see UV radiation)

8. Which vector? Insect-pollinated flowers
Stamens are often arranged to that insects must push through them to reach the nectaries
The pollen grains are often larger than wind pollinated flowers and sticky

9. Which vector? Insect-pollinated flowers
Flowers pollinated by nocturnal insects often have a strong scent to attract; this scent is strongest at night. Eg Grevilia Leucopteris (smelly socks)
Some flowers mimic the shape of the female of the insect species to attract

10. Which vector? Bird-pollinated flowers
Often red or orange or yellow – these colours recognised by birds as suitable sources for food
Generally not scented – vision not smell important
Often petals form a tubular shape
Usually have nectaries inside the flower at the base

11. Which vector?
When birds access the nectaries they dislodge the pollen from the stamen inside the floral tube and it coats the back of their head

12. Dispersing plant offspring
In flowering plants and conifers spread of the next generation of plants occurs through a seed (embryo resulting from fertilisation of egg by pollen)
In flowering plants the seeds are enclosed by fruit
In conifers the seeds are naked.

13. Dispersing plant offspring
Seeds or fruits may move or be moved by;
Sailing in the wind
Drifting on water currents (water proof coat)
Hitchhiking on animals (hooks or spines to attach)
Hitchhiking in animals (bright coloured berries, etc. Eaten – resistant to digestive enzymes)