Final answer:
Seeds enhance plant reproductive success through a built-in food supply, the ability to reproduce without water, dormancy capabilities, and varying energy investment strategies. These evolutionary adaptations have established seed plants as dominant in terrestrial habitats.
Step-by-step explanation:
Seeds provide numerous advantages for the reproductive success of plants, which have contributed significantly to the evolutionary dominance of seed plants. One key benefit is that seeds contain a food supply which supports the young plant post-germination, improving its survival chances. Seeds also allow for reproduction without reliance on water, thanks to the innovations of pollen and seeds, enhancing plant adaptability to diverse environments.
Additionally, seeds are designed to withstand harsh conditions; they can remain dormant for extended periods, waiting for optimal growing conditions to arise—an invaluable adaptation for surviving variable climates. Moreover, the investment by plants into their seeds varies: plants that produce many small seeds generally expend less energy per seed, leading to a quantity-over-quality strategy, whereas plants producing fewer but energy-rich seeds (like coconuts and chestnuts) ensure each has a higher likelihood of thriving into an adult.
Finally, evolutionary adaptations such as the development of pollen tubes and strategies for animal-assisted pollination have helped in increasing the efficiency of fertilization and further enhancing the reproductive success of seed plants.