When your bodyguard keeps lovers away
New research reveals how ant bodyguards can scare off pollinators yet still sustain plant reproduction.
Victor H. D. Silva
40 posts
Victor is a biologist passionate about the processes that shape interactions between plants and pollinators. He is focused on understanding how urbanisation influences plant-pollinator interactions and how to make cities more pollinator-friendly.
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A patchwork of green in the city
Wild plants in city gardens are defying expectations and keeping urban biodiversity alive and surprising.
Hotter days, smoker skies, quieter fields
As the wildfire burns and sunlight fades, nature’s duet between bees and flowers is starting to sound like a breakup song.
Cryptanthus bahianus: The Flower That Defies Its Genus
The exception that proves the rule: Cryptanthus bahianus takes the sweet route, not the aromatic one
The Chemical Lives of Trees: Why No Two Are Exactly Alike
Individual trees carry their own chemical signatures and they may be rewriting the rules of how ecosystems work.
From Mountains to Tropics: What Petal Size Reveals About China’s Flowering Plants
Recent research using Chinese plants reveals why some flowers have giant petals while others barely show theirs.
Bats, Birds, and Blossoms: The pollinators of Merremia platyphylla
From bat visits at dusk to hummingbird sips at dawn, this plant’s clever pollination strategy reveals the power of flexibility in nature.
The Secret Life of Nectar: How Colour and Chemistry Shape Plant–Pollinator Relationships
Have you ever wondered what’s inside a flower? It might look delicate and simple, but inside, they are busy running a secret operation.
Buzz, Bounce, and Stick: The Secret Role of a Flower’s Petal
A specialised petal in a buzz-pollinated flower acts like a pollen traffic controller, guiding grains to the perfect spot on a bee’s body.
Want More Bees in Your City? Mix Up Your Flowers
A new study finds that cities can support more wild bee species by planting a greater variety of flower shapes—not just more flowers.
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