Question

The long, thin beak of the hummingbird fits inside the tube formed by the flower petals. For this reason, the hummingbird is able to sip nectar from the flower, while other animals cannot reach the nectar. The evolution of the hummingbird beak and the tube-shaped flower petals is an example of which macroevolutionary pattern?

Option 1: Convergent evolution, because the traits evolved separately from one another
Option 2: Adaptive radiation, because both traits evolved from a common ancestor
Option 3: Coevolution, because each trait evolved in response to the other trait
Option 4: Punctuated equilibrium, because each trait evolved at the same rate

Answer 1

The evolution of the hummingbird beak and the tube-shaped flower petals is an example of coevolution, where the traits of both species evolved in response to each other.

Step-by-step explanation:

The evolution of the hummingbird beak and the tube-shaped flower petals is an example of coevolution. Coevolution occurs when two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution. In this case, as the hummingbird developed its long, thin beak to reach the nectar deep inside the tube-shaped flowers, the flowers coevolved by developing the tube shape to accommodate the hummingbird's beak.