otamopyrgus antipodarum is a species of freshwater snail that has spread far beyond its native New Zealand. Some populations of these tiny snails reproduce sexually, and other populations reproduce asexually. Huge asexual populations are now disrupting ecosystems all over the world, particularly where the water is contaminated with phosphorus. Fertilizers and detergents contain phosphorus, so agricultural runoff and other forms of water pollution are common in these regions. Like most animals that cannot reproduce sexually, the asexual snails have at least three sets of chromosomes; like most sexual organisms, the sexual snails have two. Explain why sexually reproducing snail populations predominate in regions where the water is unpolluted.
otamopyrgus antipodarum is a species of freshwater snail that has spread far beyond its native New Zealand. Some populations of these tiny snails reproduce sexually, and other populations reproduce asexually. Huge asexual populations are now disrupting ecosystems all over the world, particularly where the water is contaminated with phosphorus. Fertilizers and detergents contain phosphorus, so agricultural runoff and other forms of water pollution are common in these regions. Like most animals that cannot reproduce sexually, the asexual snails have at least three sets of chromosomes; like most sexual organisms, the sexual snails have two. Explain why sexually reproducing snail populations predominate in regions where the water is unpolluted.
The snails are mollusks that are classified under the large and diverse of class Gastropoda. The snails have many different species in different habitats showing different behaviors and anatomies suitable for those particular habitats. They can reproduce either sexually or asexually. However, some species like
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