Many flowering plants coevolve with specific pollinators. The Madagascar orchid has a 12-inch floral tube and is a reliable nectar source for the hawkmoth, which has a correspondingly long proboscis (tongue) . Which statement most accurately describes how coevolution might have occurred for the hawkmoth and Madagascar orchid?
A) The hawkmoths that expended the most effort to reach the nectar would be the most fit, and pass the longer tongue phenotype to their offspring.
B) Natural selection would favor orchids with nectar tubes just long enough to for an insect with pollen to make contact. Hawkmoths whose tongue could reach the deep tubes would be more fit.
C) Hawkmoths whose tongue was just long enough to obtain nectar, but not able to pick up pollen would become the most fit in the population.
D) It is most likely that mutations that resulted in both the length of the orchid floral tube and the length of the hawkmoth tongue occurred abruptly and simultaneously.
Correct Answer:
Verified
Q23: Which of the following flower parts develops
Q38: Use the following information to answer the
Q40: Which of the following is a true
Q42: Plant biotechnology is an effective tool for
Q44: Some dioecious species have the XY genotype
Q45: Which of these activities is part of
Q46: Regardless of where in the world a
Q47: "Bt maize"
A) is resistant to various herbicides,
Q48: Fruit ripening represents an example of positive
Q50: Over human history, which process has been
Unlock this Answer For Free Now!
View this answer and more for free by performing one of the following actions
Scan the QR code to install the App and get 2 free unlocks
Unlock quizzes for free by uploading documents