Exam 29: Nonvascular and Seedless Vascular Plants

Which of the following symbiotic relationships would most likely allow bryophytes to live successfully in a bare, moist area?

Use the following information to answer the question. Big Bend National Park in Texas is mostly Chihuahuan desert, where rainfall averages about 25 centimeters per year. Yet, it is not uncommon when hiking in this extremely arid zone to encounter mosses and ferns. One such plant is called "flower of stone." It is not a flowering plant, nor does it produce seeds. Under arid conditions, its leaflike structures curl up. However, when it rains, it unfurls its leaves, which form a bright green rosette on the desert floor. Consequently, it is sometimes called the "resurrection plant." At first glance, it could be a fern, a true moss, or a spike moss. Upon closer inspection of the leaves of "flower of stone," one can observe tiny, cone-like structures. Each cone-like structure emits spores of two different sizes. Further investigation also reveals that the roots of "flower of stone" branch only at the growing tip of the root, forming a Y-shaped structure. Consequently, "flower of stone" should be expected to possess which other characteristics?

Which of the following statements correctly describes the colonization of terrestrial habitats by plants?

Which of the following features of fertilization in plants are the same as in some of their algal ancestors?

In an investigation of Sphagnum growth, researchers measured the growth of four different S. fuscum species (labeled a, ab, bc, and c in the figure) at four temperatures. The results of the investigation are represented in the graph. Which of the following claims is most consistent with the data?

Assuming equal spore production rates, what is a likely consequence in a bryophyte with both asexual and sexual reproduction versus one with only sexual reproduction?

Suppose an efficient conducting system evolved in a moss that could transport water and other materials as high as a tall tree. Which of the following statements about "trees" of such a species would be true?

The observation that both charophytes and green plants contain chlorophylls a and b is more consistent with which of the following claims?

Which of the following is a similarity between bryophytes and seedless vascular plants?

The following question refers to the generalized life cycle for plants shown in the figure. Each number within a circle or square represents a specific plant or plant part, and each number over an arrow represents meiosis, mitosis, or fertilization. In the figure, the process labeled "6" involves ________.

Which of the following statements is correct regarding the life cycle of a fern?

Which of the following characteristics is found in heterosporous plants?

As global temperatures continue to rise, the water levels of some peatlands are expected to drop, exposing the peat to the air and causing it to decompose. Which of the following is most likely to result from this change in water levels?

Which taxon includes organisms referred to as "embryophytes"?

Use the following description to answer the question. A biology student hiking in a forest discovers an erect, 15-centimeter-tall plant that bears microphylls and a strobili at its tallest point. When disturbed, the cone emits a dense cloud of brownish dust. Observing a sample with a magnifying glass reveals the dust to be composed of tiny spheres with a high oil content. What type of plant has this student most likely discovered?

Which of the following plant forms is best adapted to live in a forest with a temperate climate?

Three of the following are evidence that charophytes are the closest algal relatives of plants. Select the exception.

Which of the following organisms were most likely the direct ancestors of plants?

Which of the following structures is present in a bryophyte at some point in their life cycles?

A botanist discovers a new species of plant in a tropical rain forest. Investigation of its anatomy and life cycle shows the following characteristics: flagellated sperm, xylem with tracheids, separate gametophyte, sporophyte generations with the sporophyte dominant, and no seeds. To which of the following groups does this plant most likely belong?