In the pollinator mutualism between the yucca plant and the yucca moth,the yucca plant is able to abort the seeds in any given flower if the moth lays too many eggs in that flower.What is the advantage the yucca plant gains by aborting these seeds?
A) The yucca plant is responsible for keeping the yucca moth population at a reasonable size.
B) Seeds are energetically expensive to produce, and if the moth larvae are going to eat most of the seeds in one fruit, the plant is able to save energy by aborting those seeds.
C) The carrying capacity of the yucca moth is increased every time it lays an egg in a yucca plant's flower, so the fewer seeds that are produced by the plant, the higher the carrying capacity of the moth can be.
D) The carrying capacity of the yucca moth is reduced every time it lays an egg in a yucca plant's flower, so the fewer seeds that are produced by the plant, the higher the carrying capacity of the moth can be.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Seeds are energetically expensive to produce, and if the moth larvae are going to eat most of the seeds in one fruit, the plant is able to save energy by aborting those seeds. By aborting some of the seeds, the yucca plant can ensure that the remaining seeds have a higher chance of surviving and being dispersed by the yucca moth to other plants, increasing the chance of successful reproduction.

In the Pollinator Mutualism Between the Yucca Plant and the Yucca