Final answer:
The gametophytes of ferns and lycophytes are low to the ground, which facilitates the movement of water needed for the swimming sperm to reach the eggs during fertilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gametophytes of both ferns and lycophytes tend to be low to the ground. In ferns, the tiny, heart-shaped gametophytes grow independently from the dominant sporophyte and can commonly be found on the soil surface or on other surfaces near the ground. They have structures called antheridia and archegonia which produce the male and female gametes, respectively. Lycophyte gametophytes, such as those from the club moss Lycopodium, are also typically found low to the ground, often developing underground in symbiotic association with fungi (mycorrhizal associations). In both cases, the proximity to the ground helps facilitate the movement of water, which is necessary for the swimming sperm to reach the eggs for fertilization.