Chapter 28, Problem 13PIAT

Summary Introduction

To review:

The results drawn from the graph and draw conclusions regarding the springtails’ role in the reproduction of moss.

Introduction:

The arthropods help in the fertilization of the many plants. The arthropods help in the transfer of the motile gamete (generally male gamete) from one place to another, which assist the process of mating in between male and the female gamete. This can be studied by the presence of the gametes of the plant on the body of the arthropods.

Researchers propose hypothesis that sperm transfer in mosses is facilitated by springtails (a type of arthropod). This hypothesis was tested by researchers growing patches of male and female mosses separated at distances from each other and in the absence or presence of springtails. Researchers checked mean number of sporophytes in each female patch (to confirm occurrence of fertilization). Their results are shown in graph below (& means P **lt; 0.01, * means P < 0.05).