Question

symbiosis reading

1. if the fig wasp were to become extinct, what would most likely happen to the tropical forest ecosystem?

pollination rates would increase due to fewer competitors.
the forest would remain largely unchanged.
other insects would easily replace the fig wasp.
strangler figs would fail to reproduce, causing a cascade effect on many species.

Explanation:

Fig wasps have a mutualistic relationship with strangler figs, being the sole pollinators. Without fig wasps, strangler figs cannot reproduce. Since many species depend on strangler figs in the tropical - forest ecosystem, a cascade effect would occur.

Answer:

Strangler figs would fail to reproduce, causing a cascade effect on many species.