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?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Coevolution occurs when two species exert selective pressures on one another, resulting in adaptations that benefit both. In this case, the orchid with a longer nectar tube would be more likely to be pollinated by the hawkmoth with a longer proboscis, as it would be able to reach the nectar at the bottom of the tube and pick up pollen in the process. The hawkmoths with shorter proboscises would be less fit, as they would not be able to obtain the nectar and would be less likely to deposit pollen on the orchid. Over time, this would result in the selection of orchids with longer nectar tubes and hawkmoths with longer proboscises.

Many Flowering Plants Coevolve with Specific Pollinators