Welcome to The
University of Illinois Pollinatarium--
a Discovery
Science Center devoted to pollinators
NEW! Photos and recipes
from the Honey,
I'm Homemade cookbook launch! Click HERE
NEW! The Pollinator Bulletin Board. Click HERE
The
University
of
Illinois
Pollinatarium
is
the
first
free-standing
science
center
in
the
nation
devoted
to
flowering
plants
and
their
pollinators.
Why
do
plants
and
pollinators merit such special attention? The
ecological interaction between pollinators and plants is vitally
important because most terrestrial life on Earth depends in one way or
another on pollination for survival. Over 75% of all flowering
plant species depend on animal pollinators in order to reproduce, so
pollination is a key process that sustains all kinds of communities
around the world. And among Earth’s inhabitants depending
on pollinators for their existence are humans; about one-third of
the diet consumed by people around the world—the part with most of the
vitamins and minerals--is the result of the pollinator-plant
interaction.
Pollination
is
therefore
economically
important
as
well.
In
the
U.S.
alone,
pollinator
efforts
contribute
close
to
$20
billion
to
the
economy
and
worldwide
pollinator
activities
are
worth
over
$200
billion.
Because
so
much
depends
on
pollination,
the
UI
Pollinatarium
is
dedicated
to
increasing
awareness
and
appreciation
of
pollination
as
a
remarkable
ecological
partnership
and
an
essential
ecosystem
service.
