Plants Make More Nectar When They ‘Hear’ Pollinators Buzzing, Say Scientists
Plants can “hear” pollinators buzzing and produce more nectar accordingly, say researchers.
An interdisciplinary group of scientists has said that there is “growing evidence” of pollinators and plants transmitting and sensing “vibroacoustic signals.” The sound of pollinators could potentially be used to artificially encourage pollination amongst crops and other flora.
Lead researcher Francesca Barbero, a professor of zoology at Italy’s University of Turin, collaborated with entomologists, sound engineers, and plant physiologists to monitor pollinators and the “astonishing” number of ways plants perceive their surroundings.
Plant-pollinator coevolution has previously focused on the visual and olfactory cues perceived by insects, such as bright colors, distinctive shapes, and floral smells. But Barbero and her team believe that the tiny sounds and vibrations of landing and takeoff also contribute.
“The ability to discriminate approaching pollinators based on their distinctive vibroacoustic signals could be an adaptive strategy for plants,” explained Barbero, as reported by Phys.org. “By replying to their proper vibroacoustic signal […] plants could improve their reproductive success if their responses drive modifications in pollinator behavior.”
Barbero and her team presented their findings at the 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and the 25th International Congress on Acoustics earlier this month
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