Final answer:
Pterophytes require water for reproduction, unlike gymnosperms which use seeds and pollen, adaptations that enable reproduction without water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Pterophytes, like gymnosperms, depend on water for reproduction" is false. Pterophytes, which include ferns and their relatives, are seedless vascular plants that require water for reproduction. Unlike gymnosperms that reproduce using seeds, pterophytes depend on free-standing water for the motile sperm to swim to the egg for fertilization. Once fertilized, the zygote develops into a sporophyte, which will produce spores that can disperse and grow into new gametophytes. Conversely, gymnosperms, such as conifers, have evolved adaptations like pollen and seeds that allow for reproduction without the direct need for water; pollen is carried by wind eliminating the need for water in transporting male gametes.