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Listening:
Question:
Using points and examples from the lecture, explain two ways that plants use the wind to spread their seeds.
Sample Answer:
The professor talks about how plants with special adaptations sometimes use wind to spread their seeds. She gives two examples of this. The first is the dandelion, which has a parachute-like structure made of fine hair-like fibers. This means that even a slight breeze can cause the seeds of a dandelion to be carried long distances. As a result, they are able to reach areas where there is more sunlight and less competition for resources, allowing the plant a better chance of survival. The second example is the maple tree. The seeds of the maple have wing-like structures on one side that allow them to spin as they fall. This slows them down and allows more time for the wind to catch the falling seeds and carry them to another location with less competition for food and water. Without this adaptation, maple seeds would likely fall in the same place and then all of them would end up competing for the same limited amount of resources.