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Reproductive Success: Evidence & Reasoning

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Reproductive Success: Evidence & Reasoning

Choose the best answer for each multiple-choice question. For written questions, use evidence from the information provided to explain your reasoning.

Traits and reproductive success

Select the strongest answer.

1.In a bird species, females tend to mate with males whose songs have more varied notes. Which trait is most directly associated with greater mating success?

A varied song that attracts more mates
A larger feeding territory, whether or not it attracts mates
Longer periods of rest during the day
A faster running speed used to escape predators

2.Which flower feature is most likely to attract animal pollinators and help transfer pollen?

Bright petals and a supply of nectar
A deep root that reaches groundwater
A waxy coating that slows water loss
Heavy seeds that drop close to the parent plant

3.Researchers recorded a frog's call rate and the number of offspring that survived each breeding season. Which result would best support a link between calling and reproductive success?

Males calling more often generally had more surviving offspring in the same seasons
Call rates changed, but the researchers did not count offspring
Offspring totals changed before call rates were measured
Different ponds had different call rates, but no reproductive data were collected

4.Which observation most strongly supports the idea that dispersing seeds away from a parent plant can improve reproductive success?

Far-dispersed seeds germinated more often and produced more surviving seedlings than seeds beside the parent
The parent plant made many seeds, but seedling survival was not checked
More seeds were found under the parent than farther away
Seeds traveled different distances, but none were followed after landing

5.Which example is the clearest case of sexual selection?

Female birds more often mate with males that have elaborate courtship feathers
Desert plants with thicker stems survive drought more often
Mice with fur that blends into the ground are less often seen by predators
Trees with deeper roots reach water during dry periods

Evaluating evidence

Use the evidence and reasoning in each situation to select the best conclusion.

6.In a field study, flowers with greater nectar volume received more bee visits and produced more seeds on average. Which conclusion is best supported by these results?

Greater nectar may attract more bees, which can increase pollination and seed production
Nectar turns directly into seeds without pollen transfer
Bee visits have no possible connection to seed production
The results prove that nectar is the only factor affecting seed number

7.Scientists removed some spines from a group of plants. The plants without spines had more leaf damage from animals and produced fewer fruits than unaltered plants. What explanation best connects spines with reproductive success?

Spines may deter plant-eaters, helping plants keep resources for making fruits and seeds
Spines attract plant-eaters, which then cause the plants to make more fruits
Fruit production caused the plants to grow spines after the experiment
The observations show that spines have no relationship to fruit production

8.One flower species releases its strongest scent at night and is visited mostly by moths. A second species releases its strongest scent during the day and is visited mostly by bees. Which explanation best fits this pattern?

The timing of scent may match the activity of different pollinators, increasing the chance of pollen transfer
Scent timing shows that moths and bees are active at exactly the same times
Flowers release scent only to prevent seeds from forming
The timing proves that pollinators cannot affect reproductive success

9.Which method would give the most direct evidence that a particular courtship behavior is associated with reproductive success?

Track many individuals over several breeding seasons and compare their behaviors with the number of surviving offspring
Describe one animal that mated after displaying the behavior
Create a computer model without comparing it with observations
Compare body colors in several species without measuring mating or offspring

Flower group

Average bee visits per flower

Average seeds per flower

Low nectar

Medium nectar

High nectar

10.Use the study data to describe the relationship between average bee visits and average seed production. Include at least two data values in your answer.

11.Does the study data prove that extra nectar alone caused the increase in seed production? Explain one limitation or another factor the team would need to consider.