Final answer:
The sporophyte makes up the shortest portion of the life cycle in liverworts (option c) where the gametophyte stage is the longest and most dominant phase, unlike in vascular plants where the sporophyte is the dominant stage.
Step-by-step explanation:
In which of the following would you expect the sporophyte to make up the shortest portion of the life cycle? The correct answer is c. liverwort. In the life cycle of nonvascular seedless plants like liverworts, the gametophyte stage predominates and is the most prominent phase of the life cycle, typically appearing as a green photosynthetic carpet. The sporophyte, which is dependent on the gametophyte for nutrients, occurs for a relatively short period and is less conspicuous.
In contrast, angiosperms, pine trees (gymnosperms), and other vascular plants have a dominant sporophyte stage that is both longer-lived and more ecologically significant. Vascular plants still require water for fertilization, but the sporophyte phase is the predominant stage we recognise as the plant itself.