I guess the knob and associated depressions act as a kind of enticement to
the plants to evolve flowering characteristics that are of benefit to Noisy
Friarbirds as opposed to other honeyeaters (for example, a large volume of
nectar which is easily accessible to a bird of its size, perhaps
concentrated within an area which can be defended by a group of
friarbirds). This is just my own speculation, of course.
I think it's probably a good example of evolution resulting from benefits
to kin rather than the individual itself. I think it's a fascinating topic.
Carol
At 3:49 PM +1000 19/9/02, Philip A. Veerman wrote:
> "The knob, and the associated depressions either side of the knob,
> are also wonderful collectors of pollen ensuring cross pollination
> as birds move between plants." That may be true but that is an
> advantage to the plants but hardly of any benefit for the birds.
> The birds aren't going to evolve something to benefit the plants,
> unless it has been of historical adaptive benefit to the birds that
> started to develop that feature.
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