Use the Following Information to Answer the Question(s) Below

question 47

Multiple Choice

Use the following information to answer the question(s) below.
Canadian and Swiss researchers wanted to know if the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was important to the productivity of grasslands (M.G.A. van der Heijden, J. N. Klironomos, M. Ursic, P. Moutoglis, R. Streitwolf-Engel, T. Boler, A. Wiemken, and I. R. Sanders. 1998. Mycorrhizal fungal diversity determines plant biodiversity, ecosystem variability and productivity. Nature 396:69-72) . Specifically, they wanted to know if it mattered which specific AMF species were present, or just that some type of AMF was present. They grew various plants in combination with one of four AMF species (A, B, C, and D) , no AMF species (O) , or all four AMF species together (A + B + C + D) ; and they measured plant growth under each set of conditions. All plant species were grown in each plot, so they always competed with each other with the only difference being which AMF species were present.
On the graphs below, the x-axis labels indicate the number and identity of AMF species (bar 0 = no fungi; bars A-D = individual AMF species; bar A + B + C + D = all AMF species together) . The y-axis indicates the amount (grams) of plant biomass for the species shown in italics above each graph. Graph (e) is the total biomass (grams) of all 11 plant species combined; graph (f) is the biomass of Bromus erectus plants only, separated from the total.
-Based on graphs in the accompanying figure, which of the following is the best description of the data supporting the idea that a plant species did not form mycorrhizae with a fungus? Its biomass is greatest when ________.

• A) no AMF are present
• B) AMF fungus A is present
• C) AMF fungus B is present
• D) AMF fungus C is present
• E) all AMF are present

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Definitions:

Test Participants

Individuals who take part in a test or experiment, often to provide data for research or product development.

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Interviews conducted after an experimental test to gather participants' feedback and understanding about the test.

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A structured method of assessing something with the assistance or direction of a guide or set of criteria.

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An early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process.