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Difficulty: EasyLogical Inferences

The plant *Alyssum bertolonii* is known as a hyperaccumulator because it absorbs high concentrations of nickel from soil. While high levels of nickel are toxic to most herbivores, *A. bertolonii* suffers very little insect damage. Because the nickel is stored in the outer leaf tissues, scientists hypothesize that the metal acts as a chemical defense. To test this, researchers grew *A. bertolonii* in nickel-depleted soil. If the hypothesis is correct, insects fed with leaves from these plants would be expected to ______

Which choice most logically completes the text?

  1. experience higher survival and feeding rates than they would when eating leaves containing typical nickel levelsAnswer
  2. B
    adapt to the toxic effects of nickel and begin to prefer *A. bertolonii* over other plant species
  3. C
    consume fewer leaves from the plants grown in nickel-depleted soil than from plants grown in nickel-rich soil
  4. D
    develop a symbiotic relationship with the plants to help them absorb other soil nutrients

Answer

experience higher survival and feeding rates than they would when eating leaves containing typical nickel levels
The text establishes that nickel is toxic to insects and acts as a defense for the plant. If the plant is grown in soil without nickel, it cannot accumulate the metal. Therefore, the toxic defense will be absent, leading to the logical conclusion that insects feeding on these plants will survive and feed at higher rates.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the core hypothesis stated in the text.
The hypothesis is that the high concentrations of nickel absorbed by the plant act as a chemical defense against herbivores.
To determine the logical consequence of growing the plant in nickel-depleted soil, we must first understand the function of the nickel.
2
Analyze the experimental condition described.
The plants were grown in nickel-depleted soil, meaning they will not accumulate nickel in their outer leaf tissues and will lack this chemical defense.
We need to predict the effect of removing the hypothetical defense mechanism on the herbivores.
3
Formulate the logical prediction.
Without the toxic chemical defense (nickel), insects feeding on the leaves should experience less toxicity, leading to higher survival and feeding rates.
This directly connects the removal of the defense to a measurable increase in herbivore success, confirming the hypothesis.

Key Concept

Logical Inferences
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Logical Inferences

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