Final answer:
The environment that favors a plant species making many small seeds is one with disturbance, as it offers space without competition for the seeds to germinate and grow. The correct option is e).
Step-by-step explanation:
The optimal environment for a plant species that makes many small seeds is likely to be one that involves disturbance. This is because when disturbances such as fire, flooding, or human activities occur, they create open spaces by removing established plants.
These open spaces then provide an opportunity for the small seeds, which typically have limited energy reserves, to germinate and grow without immediate competition from established plants.
In these environments, the quantity of seeds becomes an advantage as it increases the chances of seedlings finding suitable conditions to establish themselves.
In contrast, environments such as shade or nutrient limitation favor plant species that make fewer, larger seeds. This is because these seeds usually contain more stored energy and resources to support seedling growth until conditions improve, such as enough light for photosynthesis in a shaded area or until they can access more nutrients.
Deep burial in soil would also generally favor larger seeds, as they have more energy to grow long enough to reach the soil surface. Option e) is the correct one.