Concept explainers
To determine: Whether seed dispersal by ants is an example for coevolution.
Concept introduction: Coevolution is the mutual evolutionary influence in which two species reciprocally adapt by totally depending on each other. A classic example for such evolutionary phenomenon is flowering plants and their pollinators in which they place beneficial evolutionary pressure on each other for changes in physiology, morphology, or habits.
To determine: The reason why seed dispersal by ants is an example for coevolution.
Concept introduction: Coevolution is the mutual evolutionary influence in which two species reciprocally adapt by totally depending on each other. A classic example for such evolutionary phenomenon is flowering plants and their pollinators in which they place beneficial evolutionary pressure on each other for changes in physiology, morphology, or habits.
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Biology (MindTap Course List)
- In wild columbine, flower morphology encourages crosspollination. However, during the middle of the receptive period of the stigma, self-pollination can occur if the flower was not previously pollinated. If cross-pollination occurs after selfpollination, then that pollen reaches the base of the style before the self-pollen. Discuss the adaptive significance of this reproduction strategy.arrow_forwardBased on this evidence, is it likely that burdock would reproduce as much if it didn’t have specially structured seeds? (a) it is most likely that it would still reproduce, but the offspring would probably be located much closer together (b) there is not enough information to speculate about how well burdock plants reproduce (c) no, there wouldn’t be as much burdock without its special structures (d) Yes, burdock would spread just as well regardless of the design of its seed podsarrow_forwardOne of the most striking examples of coevolution is between insects and flowers. The earliest angiosperms produced large amounts of pollen on flowers that were wind-pollinated. The ovules were partially exposed and exuded tiny droplets of sugary sap to catch passing pollen. Outline a course of events that could have resulted in the coevolution we observe today between a flower and its pollinator.arrow_forward
- List four mechanisms of seed dispersal:arrow_forwardCompare the Venn diagram of sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction in plants. Where in the diagram would you add identical to parent A)a B)b C)c D)darrow_forwardFor a plant colonixing a remote island, describe one advantage and one disadvantage of: a.) cross-pollination b.) self-pollinationarrow_forward
- What is the evolutionary advantage of double fertilization? Why did it develop along with the evolution of the seed?arrow_forwardWhy is it adaptive for organisms such as pine trees to avoid self-fertilization?arrow_forwardIf wind and insects carry pollen from several flower species at the same time, why doesn’t he pollen of one species fertilize the eggs of a second species, thus forming hybrids?arrow_forward
- What is the evolutionary advantage for a flowering plant to be pollinated with pollen from a different individual plant (of the same species)?arrow_forwardThe Cretaceous Period was marked by the increase in number and variety of angiosperms. Insects also diversified enormously during the same period. Can you propose the reason or reasons that could foster coevolution?arrow_forwardClausen and colleagues proposed two hypotheses to explainthis variation within a species: (1) There are genetic differencesbetween populations of plants found at different elevations.(2) The species has developmental flexibility and can assumetall or short growth forms, depending on local abiotic factors.If you had seeds from yarrow plants found at low and highelevations, how would you test these hypotheses?arrow_forward
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