Which of the following adaptations are examples of plant defenses agai...
Thorns on Acacia trees (A) and chemical production in Calotropis (C) are direct plant defenses against herbivores. The other options do not describe plant adaptations.
Topic in NCERT: Defenses Against Herbivory
Line in NCERT: "Plants therefore have evolved an astonishing variety of morphological and chemical defences against herbivores. Thorns (Acacia, Cactus) are the most common morphological means of defence. Many plants produce and store chemicals that make the herbivore sick when they are eaten, inhibit feeding or digestion, disrupt its reproduction or even kill it."
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Which of the following adaptations are examples of plant defenses agai...
Understanding Plant Defenses Against Herbivores
Plants have evolved various strategies to protect themselves from herbivores, which can cause significant damage. Among the adaptations listed, thorns on Acacia trees serve as a primary example of a plant defense mechanism.
Thorns on Acacia Trees
- Physical Barrier:
Thorns act as a physical deterrent, making it difficult for herbivores to consume the leaves and stems of the tree. This adaptation helps reduce the likelihood of being eaten.
- Predator Attraction:
In some cases, Acacia trees also have mutualistic relationships with ants. The thorns can provide shelter for these ants, which, in return, defend the tree by attacking herbivores.
Other Options Explained
- High Reproductive Rate of a Parasitic Plant:
This adaptation is not a defense mechanism but rather a strategy for survival and dispersal. Parasitic plants rely on host plants for nutrients, not defending themselves from herbivores.
- Chemical Production in Calotropis:
While this adaptation does harm herbivores, it is more of a chemical defense rather than a structural one. It represents a different category of defense mechanisms.
- Camouflage in Insects like the Monarch Butterfly:
This is an adaptation of the insect and does not pertain to plant defenses. It highlights predator evasion rather than plant strategies against herbivores.
Conclusion
In summary, thorns on Acacia trees exemplify physical defenses that discourage herbivores, while the other options either pertain to different organisms or do not directly relate to plant defense strategies.