Question

Studies have shown that willow trees release volatile compounds when they become infested with tree-cating insects. These compounds spread through the air and are detected by thesurrounding trees, which then begin to increase their defense mechanisms to prevent the insects from feeding on them. A permaculture farmer is planning to plant a row of willow treesbetween the neighboring forest and his orchard. Why would the willow trees be a good addition to the orchard even though willow is not a fruit-bearing tree?A.The willow trees will not help the orchard trees survive and do not produce fruit, so they will just be a waste of space in the orchard.B.The willow trees will function as an alarm system, warning the fruit trees if tree-cating insects are encroaching from the forest, so that they can be better prepared to survive an attackC.The willow trees will kill the insects with volatile compounds as they try to enter the orchard from the forest.D.The willow trees attract insects, so the insects will eat the willow trees and leave the fruit trees alone, protecting the farmer's produce.

Answer 1

As the willow trees release compounds that can help other trees be well prepared for an insect attack, the addition of those trees surrounding the orchard would be helpful because the insects would have to pass through them before reaching the orchids. Then, the trees would release the compound and the other plants would be "warned" about the danger, including the orchids. Therefore, the correct answer is:

B.The willow trees will function as an alarm system, warning the fruit trees if tree-cating insects are encroaching from the forest, so that they can be better prepared to survive an attack