Most flowering plants can achieve pollination in several different ways. Those that produce pollen and carpels on the same plant may be self-pollinated, but they may also be pollinated by insects or other pollinators. The cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) is able to produce seed whether it is self - or cross-pollinated. Is one type of pollination better than the other? Global bee populations have been declining over the past decade. What impact might this have on the world's human population? Drag the terms on the left to the appropriate blanks on the right to complete the sentences.

Cross pollination is better than self pollination as it allows genetic diversity to occur. This is because in cross pollination, the pollen and egg form different plants unite to form the zygote which will lead to increase in genetic diversity. Flowers that were pollinated by bees did form fruits with higher mass. There was no significant difference between the number of seeds per fruit.

The decline in the bee population is a major concern for food production on a large scale. Fewer trees means decrease in crop production. This problem will make it more difficult to feed and sustain the increasing number of people world wide.