1. Imagine you are a botanist. Below are characteristics of a never-before-described plant species recently identified as part of the ‘All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI).
Organism 1
Field Notes: Specimen collected from rocks on bank of streams from the Adirondack Park (NY). Plant growth form is more ‘prone’ than upright (plant seems to have little support).
Laboratory Analysis:
Body: Consists of three regions: light brown anchoring tissue (base of plant); Green vegetative area (middle of plant); Brownish-green, stalk-like structure bearing capsule at end (top of plant).
Size: 8 cm in length
Chromosomal Analysis: Bottom two thirds of plant is haploid (chromosome # 10), while top third of plant is haploid (chromosome # 20).
Lignin test: Negative
Cuticle: Present
Leaves: Absent, though they do possess green photosynthetic structures. Contains chlorophyll a, b; B-carotenes; xanthophylls.
Roots: Absent, though they do possess anchoring (possibly absorptive) structures.
Stem: Absent, though they do possess axis—no xylem or phloem present.
Notes: Top third of plant may be separate but dependent stage of life cycle; Capsule at end of plant contains haploid spores.
Life History: Extended observations show that the haploid, bottom two regions of the plant are the dominant stage of the life cycle and produce gametes. The diploid, top third of the plant is a temporary spore-producing stage of the life cycle (sporophyte) that is dependent on the gametophyte.
Question: Explain which domain, kingdom and phylum you believe this plant should be classified in.
2. Imagine that you are a member of a research group conducting research on fruit type and seed dispersal. Your group has submitted a paper to a peer-reviewed journal that addresses the factors that impact fruit type and seed dispersal mechanisms in plants of Central America. The editor of the journal communicates that your paper may be published if you make ‘minor revisions’ to the document.
Question: Why is seed dispersal important in the life of plants? What would be the consequences of having seeds that simply fell to the ground underneath the parent tree? (Editor’s note: addressing this question will provide needed background information to the ‘Introduction’ of your paper).
