Mouse Lemurs Are Sneaky Nectar Thieves!
In Mouse Lemurs Are Sneaky Nectar Thieves!, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights lemurs enjoying a two-course meal in the branches of the baobab tree. First, the lemurs drink nectar meant for pollinating moths; then the lemurs attack the moths! This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: What are the interactions among the baobab, the lemur, and the moth?
A: The baobab produces nectar; lemurs and moths eat the nectar; lemurs and moths spread the pollen of the baobab; the nectar attracts moths, which the lemurs eat.
Q: What might happen if the baobab adapted to stop attracting lemurs by stopping nectar production?
A: It probably wouldn’t attract any pollinators, and the trees would die out.
Q: How do lemurs hurt the baobab? How do they help?
A: The lemurs rob the tree of its nectar and kill its pollinators; they become pollinators themselves when wrestling with moths.
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In Baobab Trees: Bursting Into Bloom, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how Madagascar’s strangest tree puts on a spectacular show at night. As its large flowers bloom, mouse lemurs emerge from hibernation. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.