Evolutionary Biology

[nancy9494]

Hello!

I think the answer is E? pls help

 

 

You are studying the effects of tomato hornworms (herbivores) on tomato plants in a laboratory experiment. Tomato plants have trichome defenses (small hairs) and chemical defenses (called “inhibitors”) that interfere with digestion by the herbivore. From your experiments, you discover that the number of trichomes on leaves is unchanged after feeding by hornworms whereas the concentration of “inhibitors” increases. From this experiment you can conclude that

A tomatoes must have other defenses in addition to trichomes and “inhibitors”. B there has been herbivore-plant co-evolution between hornworms and tomatoes. C trichomes are not effective defenses against hornworms. D trichomes must be inducible defenses. E trichomes are constitutive defenses while “inhibitors” are induced defenses.

[Argent]

I was unfamiliar with the term "constitutive defense", so thank you for adding to my knowledge. Now that I do know its meaning I agree with your choice of E, although I would rather it had been phrased " trichomes are probably constitutive defenses while “inhibitors” appear to be induced defenses". The version that is offered seems to definitive based on only a single suite of experiments.

[nancy9494]

Thank you!

[Argent]

I have noticed on forums that posters do not always say thank you when someone answers their question. So I say a double thank you to you for the acknowledgement. Have a great day.