Question

9th grade pre-assessment
reproduce and mostly served as nests for others. however, another fern with strap
fronds could develop fertile spores. this suggests a division of labor between fronds
that do and don’t form nests.
10 tests also revealed that nest fronds sop up more water than strap fronds do. earlier
studies conducted by other scientists had found networks of roots running
throughout the colony. using them, nest fronds can share their water, slaking the
thirst of neighboring strap fronds.
burns and his coworkers also analyzed the genes in 10 staghorn colonies on lord
howe island. eight hosted genetically identical individuals, while only two colonies
contained individuals whose genetics differed. such a high degree of genetic
relatedness is seen in colonies of eusocial insects. in ants and bees, for instance,
many sisters contribute to the survival of their home nest.
burns thinks the staghorns’ newfound traits fulfill many of the requirements needed
to support a claim that they, too, are eusocial.
looking at epiphytes as eusocial is “really cool,” says michelle spicer, an ecologist at
the university of puget sound in washington.
to burns, the division of labor to build shared resources “appears to be a key feature
that sets staghorn ferns apart from other colonial plants.” a stressful life in the
treetops— far from the soil— may have helped the ferns develop eusocial traits,
burns says. the society these plants create allows all members to share scarce
supplies of water and nutrients. spicer points out, however, that a sharing of water

assessment questions
17 out of 35 answered
question 17
what are two ways nest fronds differ from strap
fronds?
☑ a. they grow bigger than strap fronds.
□ b. they need less water than strap fronds.
□ c. they have shorter lives than strap fonds.
□ d. they absorb more water than strap fronds.
□ e. they need more nutrients than strap fronds.
□ f. they are less likely to reproduce than strap
fronds.
< back

Explanation:

• For option D: The text says "Tests also revealed that nest fronds sop up more water than strap fronds do", so D is correct.
• For option F: The text mentions one fern type (with strap fronds) could develop fertile spores while nest fronds mostly served as nests (implying less reproduction), so F is correct. A is not supported, B is opposite, C has no info, E has no info.

Answer:

D. They absorb more water than strap fronds.
F. They are less likely to reproduce than strap fronds.