Question

Question 21 2 pts Which of the following might contribute to the stability of mutualisms over evolutionary time: O A&B B: Host organisms'sanction cheater microbes that aren't contributing resources to the partnership A: The microbial partner stops benefiting the host organism but increases its own reproductive rate C: Host organisms prevent colonization from cheater microbes B&C

Answer 1

Answer: BOTH B and C

Explanation

mutualism works when both the partners benefit each other. Host plant benefits microbes and microbes benefit host plants. so if there are a cheater microbe species starts colonization in host plant without providing benefit to host plant, in this case, it will acquire the place of that mutualistic microbe which could be beneficial for the plant so it does not stabilizes mutualistic relationship so it becomes necessary for plants to sanction the colonization of cheater microbe  

option A is wrong because if a microbe continues to reproduce and stops benefiting the partner then how it can be a mutualistic relation it is against the mutualism