Final answer:
Species A, which is spherical in shape, will have faster nutrient diffusion than Species B, the cylindrical-shaped species, because the spherical shape has a higher surface area-to-volume ratio, facilitating more efficient exchange of materials.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the surface area-to-volume ratio (SA/V), if species A is a spherical shape with nodules and species B is shaped like a cylinder, the statement that is true regarding nutrient diffusion is that it will be faster in Species A than in Species B since Species A has a higher SA/V ratio (Option D). The surface area-to-volume ratio is crucial for efficient diffusion; the higher the SA/V ratio, the more efficient the nutrient and waste exchange. A spherical cell has a larger SA/V ratio compared to a cylindrical cell of the same volume because as the size of the cell increases, the volume increases more rapidly compared to the surface area, hence a sphere maintains a better ratio for diffusion. This implies that Species A, with its spherical geometry, would likely have a higher surface area relative to its volume compared to the cylindrical Species B, facilitating a faster exchange of nutrients and wastes.