Question

In a study published in the journal Nature, scientists studied eight ponds in Florida: four that were populated by a species of fish and four that were not. As they studied the ponds, they noted that the areas around the four fish-populated ponds showed decreased populations of dragonflies and dragonfly larvae, whereas the four without fish showed abnormally large populations of dragonflies and larvae. Dragonflies feed on bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Required:
Predict what would happen to the rate of pollination of flowers in a field next to a pond with no tish.

Answer 1

Answer: the rate of pollination of flower, in a field next to a pond with no fish, will DECREASE.

Explanation:

POLLINATION is defined as the process by which flowering plants, through the aid of external agents such as insects,wind, water and other animals, are able to transfer pollen grains from an anther to a receptive stigma. Insects are the most common pollinators. They visit flowers to obtain nectar and pollen as source of food. Flowers use various features, such as colour and scent, to attract and guide insects to the food source within them. In the process of reaching their source of food, insects bring about pollination.

From the study conducted by scientist in Florida, eight(8) ponds where subjected to the the study. The first four (4) ponds had species of fishes that fed on dragonflies and dragonfly larvae, hence the reason for a decrease in the population of the dragon flies in the area around it. While the remaining four (4) ponds had NO fish and the area around it is populated with dragonflies and dragonfly larvae. This is so because of the absence of fish.

It was then noted that the dragon lies fed of the insect pollinators such as the bees and butterflies. Since these dragonflies and its larvae are abundant in the field which is close to the pond with no fish, they will grossly depend on the insect pollinators as their source of food thereby decreasing the rate of pollination in the field next to the pond with no fish.