SEEd Pollinators
Assessment
This assessment was adapted from a Utah Science Core Guides assessment exemplar. Standard: 7.4.2 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about specific animal and plant adaptations and structures that affect the probability of successful reproduction. Examples of adaptations could include nest building to protect young from the cold, herding of animals to protect young from predators, vocalization of animals and colorful plumage to attract mates for breeding, bright flowers attracting butterflies that transfer pollen, flower nectar and odors that attract insects that transfer pollen, and hard shells on nuts that squirrels bury. (LS1.B) Phenomenon Darwin predicted that an orchid with a long nectar tube would have a pollinator with a way to access the nectar. Proficient Student Explanation of Phenomenon: Long skinny tube causes the pollinator to get down into the flower and get more pollen on it…. The effect is that more pollen is transferred to another flower by the pollinator - this allows reproduction to occur in the plant Plants that reproduce sexually - have pollen from one flower that combines with the egg from another flower….. The pollinator has an adaptation that allows it to access the nectar Orchids need pollen to combine with their egg to create a new Orchid seed. The long skinny nectar tube of the Orchid causes the moth to pick up more pollen as it drinks. The moth keeps going back to the Star Orchid because it doesn’t have to compete with other insects for the nectar. This means the Star Orchid has a guaranteed pollinator that transfers pollen from one orchid to another. Resources Original SEEd Assessment Exemplar 7.4.2
Orchid flowers cannot spread pollen on their own. Darwin believed that the structure of a flower and the structure of its pollinator are connected. As you watch, pay attention to what is unusual about this orchid's shape and how the moth interacts with it. !--- Play the video from 2:21-2:58. ---!{border-color:#008000;text-align:left;}
Topics and standards: Life Science, LS1.B, Ecosystems, Ecosystem Relationships, Obtaining Evaluating & Communicating Information, Structure & Function, Grades 6-8, 3D Science Tasks, 7.4.2, Hosted Utah SEEd, Assessment