pollinators
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Electric Ecology: How Animals and Plants Use Static Electricity to Stay Alive
When you hear the word “electricity”, thoughts of power lines or household appliances are probably conjured up in your mind. But electricity is not just a modern human phenomenon – it was around long before us and, in fact, long before planet Earth. “Electricity” simply refers to the interactions between any electrically charged objects, not…
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Flowers Express ‘Invisible’ Heat Patterns To Attract Bees
Over the course of evolution, flowers and pollinating insects have developed an intimate, mutually beneficial relationship. To get the attention of pollinators, flowers have developed an assortment of cues, such as colourful petals and aromatic smells. But as a new study points out, many plants also express complex floral heat patterns, which bees are able…
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A Deadly Bee Virus Is Spreading And Only Humans Can Stop It
Across the world, bees are succumbing to a deadly virus, and a new study places the blame squarely on humans. The good news is, there are some common-sense measures we can take right now to start protecting the honeybees we rely on to pollinate our crops.