Concept explainers
To determine: A hypothesis to account for the presence of a species of the family Dipterocarpaceae in South America and how it can be tested.
Introduction: The plant family Dipterocarpaceae was thought to be found only in tropical Asia. In tropical Asia, many species of the plant are found to be ecologically dominant species. Recently, it has been found that a new species of the family Dipterocarpaceae inhabits the rainforest of Colombia, which is in the northern South America.
Explanation of Solution
Asia has several species of the family Dipterocarpaceae and they are dominant in Asia. A hypothesis could be suggested to explain the discovery of a tree in northern South America. A series of evolutionary events over a very long period of time and ecological factors, such as dispersal, could lead to the spread of the species into other areas such as Colombia and South America.
Since the species discovered in Colombia is new, it is assumed that a series of evolutions led to it and since Colombia is so far from Asia, it could be assumed that it occurred because of dispersal of seeds. Ecological factors, such as insects, must have been responsible for carrying the seeds so far from their origin. The seeds must have germinated under favorable conditions of the rainforest. Further propagation and colonization of the area must have led to continued survival.
This hypothesis can be proved or tested by the cultivation of a seed from a plant of the species of Dipterocarpaceae under the same environmental conditions as in the rainforest of Colombia. The arborescent and tropical conditions are similar to those needed by the plant. This proves that the plant can grow in the rainforest. It is already known that the seeds of the Dipterocarpaceae family are insect-pollinated. On the basis of both these factors, it can be concluded that the hypothesis suggested is a possible explanation for the presence of a species of the family Dipterocarpaceae in the rainforest of Colombia.
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