Deceptive Signaling Is Widespread in Nature

question 11

Multiple Choice

Deceptive signaling is widespread in nature. For example, certain orchids lure pollinator wasps to them with flower petals that smell like receptive female wasps. This case is a Darwinian puzzle because

• A) the proportion of orchid flowers that set fruit as result of successful pollination is low.
• B) the time and energy spent on these orchids reduces the capacity of the wasp population to grow, since the deceptive plants slow the ability of male wasps to fertilize all the eggs of their females.
• C) it is unknown why orchid flowers evolved to smell like the females of certain wasps.
• D) natural selection ought to favor discriminating behavior on the part of male wasps so that they do not waste time, energy, and even sperm on orchid flowers.

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