In New Zealand, mistletoes grow on beech tree hosts, receiving water and nutrients from the trees without harming them.Mistletoes, in turn, provide nectar and fruit to bellbirds.What benefits, if any, do bellbirds most likely provide to mistletoes?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bellbirds most likely provide both pollination and seed dispersal benefits to mistletoes. Pollination occurs when the bellbirds visit the mistletoe flowers for nectar, and in the process, transfer pollen from flower to flower facilitating cross-fertilization. As for seed dispersal, bellbirds consume mistletoe fruits and excrete the undigested seeds, which then germinate on the branches of their tree hosts.

In New Zealand, Mistletoes Grow on Beech Tree Hosts, Receiving