Question

Pollination success will be reduced unless the orchid flower co-evolves with the pollinator. Explain.

Hint:

Ophrys petal mimics the female bee; if the bee changes, the flower must change too.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Co-evolution means that two interacting species change together over time, so a change in one brings a matching change in the other.
Many flowers and their pollinators show this.

Step 2: Example of the orchid Ophrys:
One petal of the Mediterranean orchid Ophrys looks like the female of a bee in size, colour and markings.
The male bee is fooled, tries to mate with the petal (pseudocopulation) and gets dusted with pollen.
When he visits another flower of the same species, the pollen is passed on and the flower is pollinated.

Step 3: Why co-evolution is needed:
If the female bee slowly changes her colour or pattern, the male bee will no longer be attracted to the flower.
Pollination will then fall unless the orchid petal also changes to look like the new female.
So the flower must evolve along with the pollinator to keep its pollination success.

Final Answer:
The flower mimics the female bee, and the bee is the pollinator. If the bee changes, the flower must change too, or pollination success drops.