One feature of a flower that attracts the Hummingbird moth is a strong, sweet smell. Flowers that smell really good are likely to catch the attention of these moths. If flowers adapted to attract more than just one type of pollinator, like bees or butterflies, they could be more successful at reproduction. This is because having different types of pollinators means more chances for pollen to be spread around, which helps the flowers make seeds and grow more plants!
ANSWER THIS HOW A SIXTH GRADER WOULD: The Hummingbird moth is mostly active at night. They are attracted to a strong, sweet odor. Like hummingbirds, they can remain suspended in the air in front of the flower. They can unfold their tongues to reach into several types of flowers.
Given this information, in three to five sentences, answer the following questions:
What is one feature of a flower that is trying to attract the Hummingbird moth as a pollinator?
Considering the information above and what your knowledge from this lesson, would flowers be more reproductively successful if they adapted to more than just the needs of one pollinator, such as the Hummingbird moth? Explain your answer.
3 answers
ANSWER THIS HOW A SIXTH GRADER WOULD: Cheetah mothers perform a number of different behaviors. They and their cubs stay in one place for only four days, moving on before they leave too strong a smell behind in one area. They also expend time and energy teaching their cubs to hunt successfully. In one or two sentences, explain how these behaviors affect cheetah reproductive success.(2 points)
Cheetah mothers move their cubs around to avoid leaving a strong smell, which helps keep them safe from predators. By teaching their cubs how to hunt, the mothers make sure that their young will be good at finding food when they are on their own, increasing the chances that they will survive and have their own cubs one day.