Back to All Events

Bitter Nectar, Toxic Pollen: Pollinators and Plant Chemicals

What: Bees and other pollinators visit flowers to forage for their food. Floral nectar supplies carbohydrates, and for bees, pollen is a critical protein source necessary to producing offspring. But pollinators also encounter a range of plant chemicals at flowers, some of them potent toxins like nicotine and cardiac glycosides. Why do flowers invest pollinator rewards with chemicals that might poison them? And how do pollinators cope with these chemicals? In this talk, Leif Richardson, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, will dive into the fascinating world of plant chemical ecology, and share how these chemicals can both harm and heal their consumers.

  • Details:

    • This virtual webinar is free and will take place on zoom. Sign up here.

  • When: Thursday, September 11; 11am-12pm.

  • Where: Virtual; Zoom.

Previous
Previous
September 10

The Art of Insect Survival: Masters of Disguise and Flashy Warnings

Next
Next
September 11

Growing Up Boulder: Picnic in the Park