Question

Which of the following statements about pollen grains is FALSE?

a. They vary considerably in size and shape.
b. They differ in the number, arrangement, and shape of their apertures.
c. They provide insights into past climates.
d. They provide a means of identifying flowering plants.
e. They are poorly represented in the fossil record.

Answer 1

The FALSE statement about pollen grains is that they are poorly represented in the fossil record. Pollen grains have a resistant outer shell which aids in their preservation, making them a common and useful tool in palynology, the study of fossil pollen to interpret past climates.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement about pollen grains that is FALSE is e. They are poorly represented in the fossil record. In contrast, pollen grains have a resistant outer shell that aids in their preservation in the geological record, making them quite common in the fossil record. The study of palynology utilizes fossil pollen to interpret past climates and the historical distribution of plant species. Pollen grains indeed vary in size and shape, have different numbers, arrangements, and shapes of their apertures, can provide insights into past climates, and help in identifying flowering plants, which support options a, b, c, and d as true statements.