Question

2 mark for review
which of the following best explains the diffusion of plants and animals from their hearths of domestication?
a animals were domesticated before plants and diffused rapidly from their hearth of domestication through contagious diffusion because they were mobile and moved easily from place to place.

b domesticated plants spread through wind - borne dispersal of seeds from their original hearth, expanding slowly until a vast region was covered with new plants.

c both domesticated plants and animals spread across the globe through contagious diffusion in early years by farmers and traders, and later by relocation diffusion through european exploration and colonialism.

d the diffusion of plants and animals was limited to areas close to each hearth of domestication because the newly developed plants and animals could not readily adapt to different soil types.

e the diffusion of plants and animals was dependent on nomadic traders who traveled between agricultural villages because early farmers were sedentary and did not travel to other areas.

Explanation:

• Option A: Plants were domesticated around the same time as animals in many cases, and the idea that animals diffused only via contagious diffusion is oversimplified. Also, the "before plants" claim is incorrect.
• Option B: Domesticated plants spread mainly through human - mediated means (like trade, migration) rather than just wind - borne seed dispersal. Wind dispersal is more for wild plants, not domesticated ones spread by humans.
• Option C: Initially, farmers and traders spread domesticated plants and animals through contagious diffusion (spreading to adjacent areas). Later, European exploration and colonialism led to relocation diffusion (people moving with these species to new continents), which accurately explains the diffusion.
• Option D: Domesticated plants and animals did adapt to new environments (e.g., crops like wheat spread to many regions with different soils), so this is incorrect.
• Option E: Early farmers did trade and interact, and diffusion wasn't only dependent on nomadic traders. Sedentary farmers also spread species through their activities like trade with neighbors.

Answer:

C. Both domesticated plants and animals spread across the globe through contagious diffusion in early years by farmers and traders, and later by relocation diffusion through European exploration and colonialism.