It is generally not clear from general biology texts, or from popular videos on the subject, why certain flowers require a very specific animal to carry its pollen from one plant to another. This exercise is a simulation of pollination where conditions are set up such that a specific association benefits both the flower and the pollinator. There are some parallels between this exercise and the natural world. There are 4 or 5 simulated flower types identified by color. There are 4 animal pollinators, identified as bee, fly, beetle, and wasp.
Students play the part of a flower or pollinator.
One of the types of flower can be pollinated ONLY by the wasp, but the other 3 flowers can be pollinated by any of the animals. Three measurements are taken. First, the total number of trips is recorded for each pollinator to fill up its bin with nectar. Second, for each type of flower the total number of compatible pollen grains received is recorded. Third, the ratio of nectar given out to the pollinator per amount of compatible pollen received is recorded.