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Question #46098
The Question
A highly specialized species of fig wasp is officially classified as 'Extinct' on the IUCN Red List. According to the principles of co-extinction in obligate mutualisms, which of the following best describes the subsequent ecological and demographic impact on its specific obligate mutualist fig tree species?
Options
- A.
The adult fig tree population will experience rapid mortality within the same season due to the loss of pollinator-induced physiological stimuli.
- B.
The fig tree will experience an immediate failure in seed set, leading to a delayed but inevitable demographic collapse as the current generation senesces.
- C.
The fig tree's IUCN status will automatically and simultaneously be updated to 'Extinct' because its reproductive isolation is compromised.
- D.
The fig tree will immediately shift to obligate apomixis to bypass the need for fertilization and maintain its current population size.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
Buffer Zone|Core Area|Edge Effect
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Distinguishing between 'reproductive extinction' (which is immediate) and 'demographic extinction' (which is delayed).
A common misconception is that co-extinction implies simultaneous, instantaneous death of both populations.
Students must recognize that long-lived primary producers will persist in census data as 'living dead' until the current generation dies out, even though their ecological fate is sealed.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biodiversity and Conservation - Class 12 |
| Concept | Convention on Biological Diversity |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |