Question

What might we say about mosses (Musci) and lichens (the ascomycete kind)?

Group of answer choices

They are both poikilohydric, and in that way ecologically similar.

They are both in the traditional kingdom Plantae (as taught in, say, 1985).

Although traditionally grouped together in the Linnaean system and with few other organisms in between, they are paraphyletic by exclusion of the seed plants.

They have converged to fill similar ecological niches (or in other words, a similar adaptive zone).

These two groups comprise a monophyletic clade.

Answer 1

The statement "They have converged to fill similar ecological niches (or in other words, a similar adaptive zone)" is a fitting description for mosses (Musci) and lichens (the ascomycete kind).

Answer 2

Mosses (Musci) and ascomycete lichens are both poikilohydric, allowing them to survive in environments with fluctuating water availability, but they are not closely related; mosses are in the plant kingdom, whereas lichens involve a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic organism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mosses and Lichens

When comparing mosses (Musci) and ascomycete lichens, one can observe that both are poikilohydric, meaning they can withstand and recover from desiccation. This allows for ecological similarities, as they both can survive in environments with variable water availability. However, they are not close phylogenetically: mosses are bryophytes within the plant kingdom, while lichens comprise a symbiotic relationship between a fungus (often an ascomycete) and a photosynthetic partner like a cyanobacterium or green algae.

Historically, fungi, including the ascomycete partners in lichens, were grouped with plants. Modern classification has corrected this, placing fungi in their kingdom separate from Plantae, due to differences such as cell wall composition and nutritional methods.

Clubmosses are a distinct group in the phylum Lycopodiophyta and have vascular tissue but lack seeds. They are not close relatives of true mosses.