The Brazil Nut Tree, Bertholletia Excels (N = 17), Is

question 68

Multiple Choice

The Brazil nut tree, Bertholletia excels (n = 17) , is native to tropical rain forests of South America. It is a hardwood tree that can grow to over 50 metres tall, a source of high-quality timber, and a favourite nesting site for harpy eagles. As the rainy season ends, tough-walled fruits, each containing 8-25 seeds (Brazil nuts) , fall to the forest floor. Brazil nuts are composed primarily of endosperm. About $50 million worth of nuts are harvested each year. Scientists have discovered that the pale yellow flowers of Brazil nut trees cannot fertilise themselves and admit only female orchid bees as pollinators. The agouti (Dasyprocta spp.) , a cat-sized rodent, is the only animal with teeth strong enough to crack the hard wall of Brazil nut fruits. It typically eats some of the seeds, buries others, and leaves still others inside the fruit, which moisture can then enter and allow the remaining seeds to germinate.
-Ecologists often build models to depict the relationships between organisms. In such models, an arrow is used to link two organisms in a relationship. The arrowhead is next to the organism that is affected. If the effect is positive, the arrow is labelled with (+) , and if negative, then the label is (-) . Which of the following models best illustrates the direct relationships of the Brazil nut tree and the other organisms associated with it?

---

Definitions:

Academic Major

The specific field of study or specialization that an undergraduate student chooses to focus on during their college education.

Emerging Adulthood

A life stage between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood, typically ranging from ages 18 to 25, characterized by exploration and self-discovery.

Change Jobs

The act of leaving one's current employment and finding work in a different job or field, often for better pay, conditions, or satisfaction.

Skepticism

A philosophical attitude questioning the possibility of certain knowledge or truth.