Use the Information to Answer the Following Question

question 70

Multiple Choice

Use the information to answer the following question.
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 (but not all) 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) .
Late in the season, when only hawk moths were present, researchers painted the red flowers white. What would you expect?

• A) Unpainted red flowers would produce more fruits than white flowers would.
• B) Red flowers painted white would produce more fruits than red flowers would.
• C) Red and white flowers would produce the same numbers of fruits.
• D) Unpainted red flowers would produce the same number of fruits as the white flowers.

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Definitions:

Inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, eroding purchasing power currency over time.

Creditors

Creditors are individuals, businesses, or financial institutions that lend money or extend credit, expecting to be repaid with interest.

Fixed Incomes

Earnings that do not change over time, such as those from bonds or rents, which provide consistent income but may lose purchasing power over time.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

A U.S. government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing economic data, especially labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes.