Angiosperms such as grasses, oaks, and maples are wind pollinated. The ancestors of these subgroups were probably pollinated by insects, however. As an adaptive advantage, why might a species 'revert' to wind pollination? (Hint: Think about the costs and benefits of being pollinated by insects versus wind.) Why is it logical to observe that wind-pollinated species usually grow in dense stands containing many individuals of the same species? Why is it logical to observe that in wind-pollinated deciduous trees, flowers form very early in spring—before leaves form?

Video transcript

Hi everyone. Let's look at our next question here. It says wind pollinated plants produce cecil flowers with dull colors unlike insect pollinated plants that have bright colored flowers. What could explain this difference? Let's look through our answer choices here. Choice A says wind pollinated plants have adapted their colors from their neighboring plants. Um Well, that's not our answer here. Um You wouldn't have plants adapting colors from neighboring plants. Adaptation would come when you have a mutation of development of a trait within an organism that then is selected for or against as it provides an advantage or a disadvantage in the environment. It's in choice B says insect pollinated plants have developed vibrant colors to protect their camino fights. Well, a color in this case isn't protecting their camino fights. You'd expect a protective color maybe to be camouflage to protect something from a predator. A vibrant color is actually calling attention to the flower to attract its insect pollinators. So that's not a correct answer. Choice. E says wind pollinated plants can be effectively transported if they have a dull color. Well, that wouldn't be our answer. Um Color wouldn't affect the ease with which they're transported. That would have more to do with size and shape since their pollen is carried by the wind. So we're finally down to choice D insect pollinated plants develop vibrant colors to attract their pollinators. Well, that is our correct answer. The vibrant colors on the flowers of insect pollinated plants, call attention to them, helping guiding insects to find them where the insects uh will have the pollen attached their body and carry it from flower to flower. So Choice D. Is our correct answer. We'll see you in the next video.