Context
A recent study finds that air pollution harms pollinators like bees and butterflies more than crop-destroying pests.
Key findings:
- Examined the effects of pollutants like ozone , nitrogen oxides , sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter .
- Scent-based Communication Disruption: Air pollutants alter scent trails, making it hard for bees and wasps to find flowers, mates, or prey.
- Biological Impact: The ability to locate food was the most affected behaviour, more than feeding, growth, survival, and reproduction.
- Ozone as the Most Harmful Pollutant: Ozone reduced beneficial insects’ ability to thrive by about 34%. Nitrogen oxides also had significant negative effects.
- Damage at Low Pollution Levels: Insect performance declines even at low air pollution levels.
About Pollination
- Involves moving pollen from the male anther to the female stigma of a flower.
- There are 2 types:
- Self-pollination: Pollen is transferred within the same flower or to another flower on the same plant.
- Cross-pollination: Pollen is transferred to a flower on a different plant of the same species.
- Pollinators are agents that facilitate pollination and can be:
- Abiotic: Wind and water
- Biotic: Insects (bees, wasps, beetles, etc.), birds, bats, and more.
Source:
The Hindu
Previous Year Question
In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index?
1. Carbon dioxide
2. Carbon monoxide
3. Nitrogen dioxide
4. Sulfur dioxide
5. Methane
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 ,2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 ,4 and 5
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (b)
