Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata) usually has red flowers in an inflorescence of up to 250 flowers. In certain populations in
the Arizona mountains, however, the flowers range from red to pink to white. In early summer, most of the flowers were red. Six to eight weeks later, the same individual plants were still present; the flowers ranged from pink to white, and few red flowers were present. The major pollinators early in the season were two species of hummingbirds active during the day; they emigrated to lower elevations, and the major pollinator later in the season was a hawk moth (a type of moth). The hawk moth was most active at sunset and later, and it preferred light pink to white flowers after dark. When hummingbirds were present, more red flowers than white flowers produced fruit. When only hawk moths were present, more white flowers produced fruit (K. N. Paige and T. G. Whitham. 1985. Individual and population shifts in flower color by scarlet gilia: A mechanism for pollinator tracking. Science 227:315-17). Refer to the paragraph on scarlet gilia. What is the significance of measuring fruit production?
A) It is a measure of pollination success.
B) It is an indication of predation on the seeds of the plants.
C) It is easier than counting flowers.
D) It is a measure of seed dispersal success.
B) It is an indication of predation on the seeds of the plants.
Explanation:
Because the coloring of the flowers is linked with day and night which in turn is linked with the predator who is collecting seeds and pollinating flowers.
