Final answer:
Seedlings grow better far from parents to avoid competition for resources like light and nutrients, reduce disease transmission, and minimize predation risks. Seed dispersal adaptations and seed dormancy help in spreading progeny through space and time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Seedlings have a better chance of survival if they grow a long way from their parent primarily due to A. avoiding competition for resources. Seedlings that are too close to their parent plants must compete for light, water, and nutrients. Especially in environments where resources are scarce, this can limit the growth and survivability of the young plants. For instance, a seedling growing in the shade of a mature plant will not have enough light to promote photosynthesis. Additionally, the dispersal of seeds over greater distances can help mitigate other risks, such as disease transmission and predation, which could be more prevalent if offspring were to grow in close proximity to the parent plant.
Seed dispersal mechanisms, like wind dispersal in dandelions, are adaptations that help ensure offspring can find suitable habitats to thrive without the immediate competition from their parental generation. Moreover, certain physiological adaptations, such as deep roots and fleshy leaves with sunken stomata to reduce transpiration, support the survival of plants in new environments. Seed dormancy is another crucial factor allowing seeds to survive over long periods until conditions are favorable for germination, thus spreading progeny through time as well as space.