Mutualism Chapter 15 Quiz

What does the evolution of mutualism theory predict?

Mutualism will evolve regardless of the costs and benefits.
Mutualism will not evolve due to the high costs involved.
Mutualism will evolve where the benefits of mutualism exceed the costs. (correct)
Mutualism will evolve where the costs of mutualism exceed the benefits.

What is the key condition for a population to be mutualistic?

The fitness of successful mutualists must be less than unsuccessful or non-mutualists.
The fitness of successful and unsuccessful mutualists must be equal.
The fitness of successful mutualists must be greater than unsuccessful or non-mutualists. (correct)
The fitness of mutualists and non-mutualists does not matter for a population to be mutualistic.

What is a key condition for a facultative ant-plant mutualism to evolve and persist?

The proportion of the plant's energy budget invested in extrafloral nectaries must be less than the proportion saved from destruction by herbivores. (correct)
The proportion of the plant's energy budget invested in extrafloral nectaries and the proportion saved from destruction by herbivores must be equal.
The proportion of the plant's energy budget invested in extrafloral nectaries must exceed the proportion saved from destruction by herbivores.
The proportion of the plant's energy budget invested in extrafloral nectaries and the proportion saved from destruction by herbivores do not matter for the evolution of a facultative ant-plant mutualism.

What is a key condition that may produce higher benefits than costs for a facultative ant-plant mutualism?

A high proportion of the plant's energy budget invested in extrafloral nectaries. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between successful and unsuccessful mutualists?

Successful mutualists give and receive benefits, while unsuccessful mutualists give but do not receive benefit. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between mutualists and non-mutualists?

Mutualists give and receive benefits, while non-mutualists neither give nor receive benefit. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit that coral receives from zooxanthallae in the Coral Mutualism relationship?

Access to higher nutrient levels (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does coral control the population growth and density of zooxanthallae in the Coral Mutualism relationship?

By secreting signal compounds altering zooxanthallae cell membrane permeability (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role do crustacean mutualists play in protecting coral according to Glynn's findings?

Improving coral chances of avoiding sea star attacks (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit that zooxanthallae receive from the Coral Mutualism relationship with coral?

Access to higher nutrient levels (D) Signup and view all the answers

How do zooxanthallae benefit coral in the Coral Mutualism relationship?

Provision of organic compounds through photosynthesis (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key way through which corals control zooxanthallae in the Coral Mutualism relationship?

By adjusting zooxanthallae cell membrane permeability with signal compounds (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of ectomycorrhizae (ECM) in relation to plant roots?

Increasing access to immobile nutrients like phosphorus (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to the study by Allen and Allen, how did mycorrhizae affect the water relations of the grass Agropyron smithii?

Plants with mycorrhizae maintained higher leaf water potentials (D) Signup and view all the answers

What hypothesis did Hardie propose regarding the role of mycorrhizal fungi in plant water relations?

Mycorrhizal fungi improve water relations by providing more extensive contact with moisture and extra area for water absorption (B) Signup and view all the answers

What did Johnson's investigation aim to study?

The effect of fertilization on the mutualistic relationship between plants and mycorrhizal fungi (D) Signup and view all the answers

What did Johnson's investigation find regarding the trade between plants and mycorrhizal fungi in nutrient-poor environments?

The fungal partner received an equal or greater quantity of photosynthetic products in exchange for a low quantity of nutrients (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the observed pattern of root investment in plants growing in low-nitrogen soils?

Plants invested more in roots in low-nitrogen soils (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was observed regarding Andropogon's inflorescence production?

Inflorescences were only produced in nitrogen-supplemented treatments. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What benefits do ants provide to swollen thorn acacia plants?

The ants provide protection from herbivores, and the plant provides living space, sugar, and nutrients. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did Janzen's experiment demonstrate regarding the relationship between ants and swollen thorn acacias?

Ants significantly improved the performance of acacia plants. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did Inouye and Taylor observe regarding ants and aspen sunflowers?

They never observed ants collecting nectar from aspen sunflower blossoms or tending aphids. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was proposed regarding the relationship between ants and aspen sunflowers?

Ants protect the developing seeds of aspen sunflowers from seed predators. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the relationship between ants and aspen sunflowers differ from the relationship between ants and swollen thorn acacias?

The relationship between ants and aspen sunflowers is facultative, while the relationship with swollen thorn acacias is obligate. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)?

They produce spores that can survive in the soil for extended periods. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of mutualism, what is the difference between facultative and obligate mutualism?

Facultative mutualism occurs when a species can live without its mutualistic partner, while obligate mutualism occurs when a species is dependent on a mutualistic relationship. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What evidence did Margulis and Fester present regarding the origin of eukaryotes?

They provided evidence that eukaryotes originated as mutualistic associations between different species. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of arbuscules in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)?

They are sites of exchange between plants and fungi. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about mutualism is NOT true?

In mutualism, one partner always benefits more than the other. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What are the two most common types of mycorrhizae mentioned in the text?

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (B) Signup and view all the answers