Darwin suggested that plants pollinated by long tongued insects would benefit by having long flowers. To measure the advantaged
of having long flowers, Johnson and Steiner (1997) experimentally shortened 68 of 140 flowers. The remaining flowers were control. One week later, 24 out of the 68 shortened flowers had received pollen, whereas 18 out of the control flowers had received pollen. Estimate the odds ratio of not receiving pollen after flower shortening, as compared to control flowers
The possibility of not receiving pollen for shortened flowers is 64.7% and for the control group it is 75%.
Explanation:
Pollination carried out by insects help plants spread their pollens and multiply. Contrary to Darwin's suggestion, the experiment results prove that having long flowers decreases the chances of pollination by long tongued insects as it is shown in the experiment.
The odds ratio of not receiving pollen after the flower shortening can be calculated as 64.7% compared to the odds of flowers that were not shortened which have a possibility of 75% of not receiving pollen.
