Intro to Plant Adaptive Traits

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Question 1: Is a unique type of plant a species?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Any unique type of organism (e.g., animal, plant, bacteria) is a species.

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If a species goes extinct, can there still be some members of that species living somewhere?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. By definition, all members are dead when it’s extinct.

Is storing water in a stem or branch a type of adaptive trait?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. This is common in desert plants such as cacti which may go a long time between rainfalls.

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Does moss need a lot of sunlight to grow?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. Its adaptive trait for surviving on dark forest floors is to need only a little light to do photosynthesis.

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Do some plants regrow parts that have been eaten?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Common examples are grass and bushes growing back after being partially cut. Regrowth is rare among animals but some can do it (e.g., salamander legs).   

Are aerial roots a type of adaptive trait?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Like buttress roots, these help stabilize a large tree.

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Do plants use animals to disperse (spread) seeds?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Plants make fruit which attract animals who then eat it, and in the process spread the plant’s seeds.

Are the designs for adaptive traits stored in DNA?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. The adaptive traits are stored as genes, and those genes are part of the organism’s DNA.  

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