Question

freeze tolerance
use the information and your knowledge of science to answer the questions.
doug schemske is a biologist who studies plants from around the world. doug and his research team carry out experiments with the plant species mouse - ear cress, or arabidopsis thaliana. they like this species because it is easy to grow in both the lab and field. arabidopsis is very small and lives for just one year. it grows across most of the globe and in a wide range of latitudes and climates. arabidopsis is also able to pollinate itself and produce many seeds, making it possible for researchers to grow many individuals to use in their experiments.
doug chose arabidopsis populations in scandinavia and the mediterranean for his research on local adaptation because those two locations have very different climates. the populations may have adapted to have the highest survival and reproduction based on the climate of their home location.
to deal with sudden freezes and cold winters in scandinavia, plants may have evolved freeze tolerance traits, which produces chemicals that act like antifreeze.
part a:
which statement most accurately describes dougs findings from his experiment?
a mediterranean plants had an average 42.33% better chance of surviving after freezing than the scandinavian plants.
b scandinavian plants had an average 42.33% better chance of surviving after freezing than the mediterranean plants.
c mediterranean plants survived 26% better in freezing temperatures than the scandinavian plants.
d scandinavian plants successfully grow at all latitudes with survival rates ranging from 50% to 71%.

Explanation:

Doug's experiment focuses on freeze tolerance in Arabidopsis populations from Scandinavia (cold, harsh winters) and the Mediterranean (milder winters). Evolutionary adaptation predicts the Scandinavian plants, which evolved in a colder climate with frequent freezes, would have higher freeze survival rates than Mediterranean plants. Option A and C incorrectly state Mediterranean plants have better survival, while Option D incorrectly claims Scandinavian plants grow well at all latitudes (the experiment focuses on freeze survival, not growth across all latitudes, and this is not supported by the given context).

Answer:

B. Scandinavian plants had an average 42.33% better chance of surviving after freezing than the Mediterranean plants