Final answer:
The new plants may survive even if their cotyledons were eaten by ants, as long as the ants do not continue to eat the true leaves. The survival of the seedlings will depend on various factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The new plants may still survive even though their cotyledons were eaten by ants. Cotyledons are the first leaves to emerge from a seed and they provide nutrients to the seedling until it grows its true leaves and can photosynthesize. However, if the ants continue to eat the true leaves of the seedlings, it could significantly impact their chances of survival.
Example: Let's say there are 10 bean seedlings. Initially, the cotyledons of all seedlings were eaten, leaving them with no source of nutrition. As a result, all 10 seedlings will struggle to survive. However, if the ants move on after eating the cotyledons and do not damage the true leaves, some seedlings may survive by relying on their true leaves for nutrition through photosynthesis. In this case, the survival chances of the seedlings will depend on factors such as their ability to tolerate stress, availability of sunlight, and water.