4.
We are given two plant species. Species A has large white colored flowers with copious
amounts of nectar, while Species B has dull green colored flowers with no nectar. Which
of the following is true?
a. Species A is more fit than Species B.
b. Species B is more fit than Species A.
c. Both species are equally fit.
d. We cannot conclude anything about fitness from the given data.
Plant Fitness from Flower Color and Nectar: CSIR NET MCQ Solved
The correct answer is d. We cannot conclude anything about fitness from the given data. Evolutionary fitness in plants measures relative reproductive success—specifically, the number of viable offspring passed to the next generation—not superficial traits like flower color or nectar presence.
Option Analysis
a. Species A is more fit than Species B
Large white flowers with copious nectar often attract more pollinators like bees or moths, potentially increasing pollination efficiency. However, fitness requires data on seed set, offspring survival, or recruitment rates; attractive flowers may even draw herbivores or incur high energy costs without boosting reproduction.
b. Species B is more fit than Species A
Dull green flowers without nectar suggest wind or self-pollination strategies, which can succeed in nectar-poor environments by avoiding pollinator dependence. Yet, without reproductive metrics, this assumes unproven advantages like lower metabolic costs or better offspring viability.
c. Both species are equally fit
Equal fitness implies identical lifetime reproductive output, but the data provides no comparison of seeds produced, germination rates, or population persistence. Flower traits alone cannot quantify this without field measurements.
d. We cannot conclude anything about fitness from the given data
Fitness links directly to reproductive success, not proxy traits like color or nectar. Studies confirm nectar and color influence pollinators but vary by context (e.g., drought, competitors), requiring explicit fitness proxies.
Large white flowers with copious nectar in Species A versus dull green nectarless flowers in Species B highlight pollination syndromes, yet plant species fitness flower color nectar data alone reveals nothing definitive about relative reproductive success. This CSIR NET-style question tests core evolutionary biology: fitness demands quantified offspring production, not assumed trait superiority.
