Is "buzz" pollination co-evolvable?
I have previously presented "buzz" pollination as an argument against co-evolution because of the high degrees of exclusive mutual specializations required in both the insects and the flowers and the improbability that both of those exclusive mutual specializations would appear at the same times in the same places. Now it appears that the degrees of those specializations are much higher than I realized. Previously I thought that buzz pollination only involved normal use of the insect's wings, but in buzz pollination the insect uses its wings in a special way that may even involve specialized muscles. An article says,
.
I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet, presented by the American Museum of Natural History . . . .
. . . . In most plants, the pollen in the anther is accessible, but in certain plants (such as the eggplant) it's relatively inaccessible, because the anthers are tubular with an opening on only one end . . . .
. . . ."There's the flight of the bee that's sort of a (SOUND OF BUZZING) but then when it lands on the flower and vibrates it, it goes (SOUND OF BUZZING, DIFFERENT PATTERN) that's the more intense sound is the buzzing of the bee. It's not flying. It's not moving its wings. The wings are pointed over its back, but it's moving those indirect flight muscles to vibrate, and thereby dislodge the pollen that's stuck in the anther area of the plant."
Buzz pollination is also discussed here.
For other articles about co-evolution, click on the post label "Non-ID criticisms of evolution."
.
Labels: Non-ID criticisms of evolution
1 Comments:
I might add that the pollen is harder to release than I realized. I only thought that the pollen had a stronger-than-normal adherence to the plant, but the pollen is actually inside a tube. And, of course, it is impossible for the pollen to be wind-carried by anything less than a tornado.
Post a Comment
<< Home