An entomologist studies 240 insects: 140 pollinate roses, 120 pollinate daisies, and 60 pollinate both. How many pollinate only one type of flower? - Databee Business Systems
Understanding Insect Pollination: A Study of 240 Insects and Their Flower Preferences
Understanding Insect Pollination: A Study of 240 Insects and Their Flower Preferences
In the intricate world of plant-animal interactions, insects play a vital role as pollinators. A recent entomological study sheds light on how various insects interact with two popular garden flowers—roses and daisies—revealing fascinating patterns in their feeding behavior. With 240 insects observed, this research uncovers how many pollinators specialize in one flower type, rather than both.
The study found that 140 insects pollinate roses, 120 pollinate daisies, and 60 insects pollinate both roses and daisies. This overlap indicates that these 60 bees, beetles, or butterflies serve dual pollination roles, supporting two key plant species. But how many insects focus exclusively on just one type of flower—either roses or daisies?
Understanding the Context
To calculate this, we apply basic set theory. The number of insects pollinating only roses is found by subtracting those that pollinate both from those that pollinate roses:
Only roses = Total pollinating roses – Both = 140 – 60 = 80 insects
Similarly, the number pollinating only daisies is:
Only daisies = Total pollinating daisies – Both = 120 – 60 = 60 insects
Adding these gives the total number of insects that pollinate only one flower type:
Only roses + Only daisies = 80 + 60 = 140 insects
This tells us that 140 out of 240 insects act as specialists, visiting either roses or daisies, but not both. These specialized pollinators are crucial for maintaining genetic diversity in both plant species and supporting ecosystem health.
Key Insights
In conclusion, the entomologist’s study highlights the nuanced pollination behaviors among 240 insects, revealing that 140 pollinate only one type of flower—a meaningful split supporting diverse floral communities. Understanding these patterns helps guide conservation strategies and promotes biodiversity in gardens and natural habitats alike.
Keywords: entomologist study, insect pollination, pollinate roses, pollinate daisies, 240 insects, flower-pollinating insects, dual pollinators, only one flower type, ecosystem pollinators.
