For the first time, the species of

For the first time in history, researchers have found evidence of pollinators of aquatic ecosystems and that they work like bees on the ground.

Just like the brothers on the ground, seagrass also produces pollen to reproduce and maintain the race. Until now, biologists have argued that marine plants rely on streams of water to spread their genes far and wide. But the recent discovery of an underwater pollinator has changed that mindset.

The ocean also has diligent "Bees".

Through the research period from 2009 to 2012, the science group came from Autonomous National University, Mexico, turned the night activities of a crustacean in the area of ​​pollinating seagrass, this seagrass The scientific name is Thalassia testudinum .

Through this video, the team determined that the number of crustaceans approaching the flowers is much higher than those with little or no chalk like the characteristics of the bees on the ground.

"We observed all the animals gathered and saw some of them bring pollen away," said study leader Brigitta van Tussenbroek.

This concept is extremely new and the team has put a new name to describe, that is "zoobenthophilous pollination" . No one has ever previously questioned how animals participate in the pollination of marine plants.

Seagrass Thalassia testudinum, also known as Turtle Grass.

Do these crustaceans really pollinate or just find food? To answer that question, the group put a few crustaceans in an artificial tank full of seagrass.

In a few minutes, pollen has appeared in female flowers that need pollination, compared to in control tanks without crustaceans added, this phenomenon does not occur. The conclusion is that it is clear that crustacean individuals have brought pollen from one place to another to help pollination process easily, in nature we still believe that the ocean currents have been carried out. this.

The phenomenon may be caused by crustaceans attracted by the food in the flower area of ​​the seagrass and accidentally bring pollen from male flowers to flowers when the pollen sticks to their bodies similar to bees pollinate flowers in the process of finding honey.

At present, the group only proves the relationship between tortoise grass, large flowering species and crustaceans during pollination. In addition, more than 60 other seaweed species have similar pollination mechanisms. have specific evidence.

Kelly Darnell of the nonprofit research organization "The Mexico Institute of Water Sciences" shared with New Scientist:

"The process of participatory animal pollination has increased the complexity of marine ecosystems to a new level, the interesting relationship between animals and plants has never been studied before , " Kelly Darnell said.

Small crustaceans play the role of pollinators in the sea.

The contribution of seagrass fields to the ecosystem is undisputed. Not only support, create an ideal living environment for large and small animals but also anchor to protect the coastline from erosion and erosion.

The carbon content of a hectare of seagrass is equivalent to 2 hectares of rainforest, demonstrating the great ability of seagrass to become a green carbon source in the near future. But unfortunately the green ecosystem is hidden under these near-shore waves often overlooked and not properly protected. A better understanding of flora and fauna and their relationships in the population will help us to have more effective exploitation and protection.

New research is published and published in Nature Communications.