Question

Give an account of any two biotic agents for pollination along with their adaptations.

Answer 1

1. Angiosperms use biotic agents by feeding the visitors and exploiting their mobility for pollination and also for seed dispersal.
2. Biotic agents include Birds, bats, insects, snail, etc. 
3. Birds: Small birds like Sun birds, humming birds perform ornithophily. Some ornithophilous plants are Bombax, Callistemon (Bottle Brush), Butea, etc.

Ornithophilous plants shows the following adaptations:

1. Flowers are usually brightly coloured, large, and showy.
2. They secrete profuse, dilute nectar.
3. Pollen grains are sticky and spiny.
4. Flowers are generally without fragrance, as birds have a poor sense of smell.

iv Bats (Chiropterophily)
Pollination carried out by bats is called chiropterophily.

Adaptations in chiropterophilous flowers:

1. Flowers are dull coloured with a strong fragrance.
2. They secrete abundant nectar.
3. Flowers produce a large number of edible pollen grains.
4. Chiropterophily is shown by plants like Anthocephalus (kadamb tree), Adansonia (Baobab tree), Kigelia (Sausage tree).