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Pollinator Paradise
Bat pollinators?! Yes, bats DO pollinate plants. Bat pollination is called chiropterophily. See if you can find the Cup & Saucer vine (Cobaea scandens) -- a bat pollinated plant in this garden.
Because bats are active at night, many bat pollinated flowers only open their petals after dark, and the flowers may have a musky, rotten odor to attract the bats.
Many rainforest ecosystems rely on bat pollinators to regenerate; in fact, bats may be responsible for 90 percent of rainforest reforestation.
Without bat pollinators, we could not enjoy many products from the rainforest, like bananas, chocolate, and coffee. Other more functional products include rubber and some medicines. |