Why Do Some Plants Rely on Snail Pollination?
The examination showed that the snail species Lamellaxis gracilis pollinates Volvulopsis nummularium, which has a place with the morning brilliance/yam family. Strangely, this plant is likewise pollinated by honey bees; in any case, on blustery days, the previously mentioned snail species is the restrictive pollinator of the plant.
Pollination is completed by a specialist which moves pollen from the pollen sac or anther to the shame or ovule in blossom. There are numerous specialists answerable for pollination, one of them being snails and slugs.
What is Pollination by Snails?
Pollination by snails is called malacophily. Pollination is a fundamental cycle for blooming plants to imitate. Since most blooming plants can't fertilise all alone, they need to depend on different creatures. Generally, spineless creatures, for example, bumble bees and butterflies, are liable for pollinating a larger part of blooming plants. Spineless creatures like snails additionally work with the course of pollination.
How Do Snails Help in Pollination?
Of the numerous creatures that help pollute, snails are generally the last to be considered pollinators. Research shows that snails actually assist pollination; however, it is an intriguing and dark peculiarity.
The examination showed that the snail species Lamellaxis gracilis pollinates Volvulopsis nummularium, which has a place with the morning greatness/yam family. Strangely, this plant is additionally pollinated by honey bees, notwithstanding, on blustery days, the previously mentioned snail species is the elite pollinator of the plant.
What is Malacophily Pollination?
Malacophily alludes to the pollination of plants by snails and slugs. Malacophilous pollination is when snails and slugs aid pollination, and malacophilous blossoms have been pollinated by snails and slugs.
Pollination by Snails Examples
Pollination is a significant biological cycle that helps sexual proliferation in blossoming plants. Albeit different creatures are known to achieve dust move, pollination by snails (malacophily) has stayed an uncommon and dark peculiarity. Here we decisively exhibit the frequency of malacophily in Volvulopsis nummularium (family Convolvulaceae, regularly known as the morning magnificence family), a prostrate stormy season weed, which is likewise visited by bumble bees. Blossoms open toward the beginning of the day and last just for a portion of the day.
Apis cerana indica and Graceful Awlsnail (Lamellaxis gracile) are the pollinators. Snails are select pollinators on stormy days when honey bees are not dynamic. Despite the conviction that snails are damaging, we found that they don't influence the regular fruitfulness of V. nummularium. Manual pollinations showed that the plants were facultatively autogamous. Pollination in V. nummularium by snails and bumble bees addresses a fascinating organisation, which is of versatile importance in making high regenerative progress without falling back on committing selfing.
Some Plants Pollinated by Snails
Apis cerana indica and Graceful Awlsnail (Lamellaxis gracile) are the pollinators. Snails are elite pollinators on a blustery day when honey bees are not dynamic. Pollination is the cycle that happens in plants, and during this interaction, a few pollinating specialists assist with loving air, bugs, birds, and so forth. Every pollination finished by the different pollinating specialists has various kinds of names or terms. In this inquiry, this idea of naming has been utilised.
Pollination is the cycle happening in plants, and the primary objective of this cycle is to create offspring. It is a cycle wherein dust grains are been moved from the male sex organ in plants called anther to the female sex organ called a stigma.
The fruitful fulfilment of this interaction relies on some pollinating specialists. There are various kinds of pollinating specialists present in the climate. A few specialists are usually viewed as birds, bugs, and air. One of the specialists is snails and slugs.
Important Questions
Who is the greatest pollinator?
Ans: The high-contrast ruffed lemur is the biggest pollinator on the planet! They are the essential pollinator of the voyager's tree, and it isn't simple getting to their blossoms. These lemurs need to open up the bloom and reach in with their long nose and tongue.
What is self pollination?
Ans: Self pollination is referred to as the primary type of pollination as it includes a single flower. Self-pollination occurs when pollen grains fall directly from anther into the stigma of the flower. This process is quite simple and fast, which leads to a reduction in genetic diversity as the sperm and egg cells of the flower share some genetic information.
Interesting Facts
There are approximately 60,000 types of snails on the planet.
Snail territory ranges from 0.68 mm to 70 cm in size.
Typically, snails weigh from 25 g to 45 g.
They first advanced a long time back.
Key Features
Pollination demonstrates moving pollen grains from the male anther of bloom to the female stigma.
The objective of every living creature, including plants, is to make posterity for the future.
Snails are elite pollinators on a blustery day when honey bees are not dynamic. Pollination is the cycle that happens in plants, and during this interaction, a few pollinating specialists assist with loving air, bugs, birds, and so forth.
FAQs on Pollination by Snail: Definition, Process & Examples
1. What is the specific term for pollination by snails, and what does it mean?
The specific term for pollination carried out by snails is malacophily. It is a type of biotic pollination where land snails, and sometimes slugs, act as the pollinating agents. They facilitate the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another as they move across plants in search of food or moisture.
2. Can you provide some examples of plants pollinated by snails?
Pollination by snails is relatively rare, but it has been observed in certain plant species. Some well-documented examples include:
- Plants from the Araceae family (like some aroids or Arisaema).
- Certain species of Aspidistra (the cast-iron plant).
- Some terrestrial orchids and ferns that grow in damp, shaded environments where snails are abundant.
3. What are the typical characteristics of malacophilous flowers?
Flowers adapted for pollination by snails, known as malacophilous flowers, often share several characteristics. They are typically:
- Located close to the ground, where snails can easily reach them.
- Dull in colour (e.g., brownish or greenish), as snails do not rely on bright colours for attraction.
- Often lack a strong, sweet fragrance, as snails are not attracted to scents in the same way insects are.
- The floral parts, particularly the stigma and anthers, are positioned to come into contact with a snail's body as it crawls over the flower.
4. How does the process of pollination by a snail actually occur?
The process of malacophily is straightforward but often accidental. As a snail moves over a flower, its sticky, mucus-covered body picks up pollen grains from the anther. When the snail later crawls over another flower of the same species, some of this pollen gets deposited onto the receptive stigma, leading to fertilization. The mucus on the snail's body helps the pollen adhere, facilitating the transfer.
5. How does pollination by snails (malacophily) compare to pollination by insects (entomophily)?
Malacophily and entomophily are both forms of zoophily (pollination by animals), but they have key differences.
- Attractants: Insect-pollinated flowers use bright colours, nectar, and strong scents to attract pollinators. Snail-pollinated flowers are typically inconspicuous and lack these attractants.
- Efficiency: Insects like bees are often highly efficient and targeted pollinators. Snails are generally considered less efficient, non-specialised pollinators, as the pollen transfer is often accidental.
- Environment: Malacophily is restricted to damp, shaded habitats where snails thrive. Entomophily occurs in a vast range of environments.
6. Why is pollination by snails considered a rare phenomenon?
Malacophily is rare primarily because snails are not very effective or reliable pollinators compared to other agents like insects, birds, or wind. Key reasons for its rarity include:
- Slow Movement: Snails move very slowly and cover limited distances, which restricts gene flow between distant plant populations.
- Non-Specific Foraging: Snails are often foraging for food (plant tissue) and may end up damaging the floral parts, acting as herbivores rather than beneficial pollinators.
- Low Efficiency: The transfer of pollen is accidental and not guaranteed, making it a less successful reproductive strategy for most plants.
7. Are there any advantages for a plant to be pollinated by snails?
While it has significant drawbacks, relying on snails for pollination might offer a few situational advantages. In extremely damp, shaded ecosystems where flying insects are scarce, snails provide a viable, if not ideal, method of cross-pollination. This ensures some level of reproductive success in an environment where other pollinators are absent. Furthermore, since snail-pollinated flowers do not need to produce costly attractants like bright petals or large amounts of nectar, the plant can conserve energy.
