Question 1
Multiple choiceEasy1 markA population of plants is already well adapted to a stable environment. Which reproductive strategy would most directly maintain that adaptation as the population increases?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring, so an adaptation suited to the existing environment can be retained as the population increases.
A: confuses fertilization with cloning; fusion of gametes combines alleles from two gametes.
B: assigns meiosis to asexual reproduction; meiosis occurs in sexual life cycles and breaks up parental allele combinations.
D: reverses the role of meiosis, which breaks up rather than preserves parental allele combinations.
Remember: asexual reproduction retains successful combinations, while sexual reproduction generates new combinations that can contribute to variation.