Many flowering plants have a color pattern known as a UV

Last updated: 7/26/2022

Many flowering plants have a color pattern known as a UV bullseye. When viewed under ultraviolet (UV) light, the bullseye shows up as a dark spot in the center of the flower, close to the nectar and the pollen. The bullseye also absorbs UV radiation from the sun and protects the plant, similar to how melanin in humans protects against sunburn. a. Many bees have UV light receptors in their eyes. Describe the advantage of this adaptation to the bee AND to the flower. b. Flowering plants that live in hotter environments tend to have larger UV bullseyes. In fact, some UV bullseyes are so large that the entire flower looks dark under UV light. Describe the tradeoff of having a large UV spot. Note that "tradeoff" means one advantage and one disadvantage.