Question
Read the following scenarios and determine each pattern of evolution being described.
Male bumblebees go to flowers, such as orchids, to pick up chemicals that allow them
to create attractive scents to put off for female bumblebees. Flowers have waxy pollen
to stick to the bumblebee's heads and abdomens in order to spread their pollen to other
flowers. These two traits – sticky pollen and chemicals for attractive scents – have
evolved together, forming a mutualistic relationship between flowers and bumblebees.
Male bumblebees go to flowers, such as orchids, to pick up chemicals that allow them
to create attractive scents to put off for female bumblebees. Flowers have waxy pollen
to stick to the bumblebee's heads and abdomens in order to spread their pollen to other
flowers. These two traits – sticky pollen and chemicals for attractive scents – have
evolved together, forming a mutualistic relationship between flowers and bumblebees.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The scenario describes a **mutualistic coevolution** between male bumblebees and flowers (such as orchids). In this relationship, both species benefit from the evolution of specific traits. The bumblebees gather chemicals from the flowers to attract females, while the flowers develop sticky pollen that adheres to the bumblebees, facilitating cross-pollination. This interdependent evolution of traits that enhances the reproductive success of both the bumblebees and the flowers exemplifies mutualism, where each species has adapted in response to each other's needs and behaviors.