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Question #46615
The Question
A rare angiosperm species in a fragmented habitat exhibits an age pyramid where the number of individuals in the pre-reproductive age group is significantly lower than those in the reproductive age group. If an epidemic completely wipes out its obligate mutualist wasp species, which of the following demographic consequences is most likely to occur?
Options
- A.
The plant population will shift from a stable bell-shaped pyramid to an expanding triangular pyramid due to competitive release.
- B.
The pre-reproductive base will shrink to zero, accelerating the already declining urn-shaped pyramid into an extinction vortex via co-extinction.
- C.
The plant will undergo a genetic bottleneck, but its age pyramid will remain urn-shaped as vegetative propagation compensates for the loss of the pollinator.
- D.
The reproductive cohort will experience increased mortality, converting the declining pyramid into a stable bell-shaped pyramid.
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
Thermal Tolerance Ranges|Resource Partitioning (MacArthur’s Warblers)|Niche Overlap
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Synthesizing Population Ecology (Age Pyramids) with Biodiversity (Co-extinction).
Students often memorize pyramid shapes (Urn = declining) and co-extinction examples separately but fail to link how the loss of a mutualist mechanically alters the age pyramid by dropping natality (the pre-reproductive base) to zero, thereby accelerating a decline into an extinction vortex.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Organisms and Populations - Class 12 |
| Concept | Thermal Tolerance Ranges |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |