Question

Your botany teacher is making assignments for a research project on a plant species. She assigns you to study hemlock (Conium maculatum) and mentions that is an r-selected species. Based on this, what characteristics would you predict to be true of hemlock? Select all that apply.

a. HABITAT: Disturbed areas like the edges of agricultural fields.
b. HABITAT: Pristine, undisturbed meadows.
c. REPRODUCTION: Large numbers of seeds produced at a time.
d. REPRODUCTION: Small numbers of large seeds produced.
e. LIFESPAN: One to two years.
f. LIFESPAN: Several decades.

Answer 1

Hemlock, as an r-selected species, is predicted to inhabit disturbed areas, produce numerous small seeds, and despite being long-lived, retains some r-selected characteristics like large seed production.

Step-by-step explanation:

Considering that hemlock (Conium maculatum) is classified as an r-selected species, several characteristics can be predicted. R-selected species like hemlock often inhabit environments that are prone to disturbance or where competition is low, such as disturbed areas around agricultural fields. These species typically exhibit a reproductive strategy that includes producing large numbers of small, wind-dispersed seeds, ensuring that at least some offspring will survive in the unpredictable environment. However, hemlocks are also known to be long-lived, with species such as the Eastern hemlock and western hemlock living for several decades or even centuries, which is a trait usually associated with K-selected species.