Trap line pollination

Title

Trap line pollination

Definition

Movement of a pollinator from the flowers of one plant of a species to the flowers of another plant of the same species on a specific route that is repeated during the same day and on following days as long as the pollinator reward is sufficent to attract the pollinator.

Notes

This behavior results in out crossing, i.e., pollen is carried from the flowers of one plant to those of another plant which increases genetic diversity and gives plants greater ability to adapt to changes in their environment. Another advantage of trap line pollination is that it facilitates the movement of pollen from one plant of the species to another plant of the same species without the pollen loss that takes place when a pollinator deviates to visit flowers of a different species..

Related Terms

Pollination (pollinate}

Cross-pollination

Pollinator reward