In the case of co-evolved plant pollinator mutualism where one of the species got extinct, what would be the impact on the other species?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → It will get extinct
Option (1) It will become dormant — Incorrect. Dormancy is a temporary resting state; it does not save a species that has lost its partner for ever.
Option (2) It will survive — Incorrect. The partner is essential; without it the species cannot complete its life.
Option (3) It will get extinct — Correct. In co-evolved plant-pollinator mutualism, each species depends on the other, as in the fig and its wasp. When one goes extinct, the other, which cannot live without it, also becomes extinct; this is co-extinction.
Option (4) It will under go metamorphosis — Incorrect. Metamorphosis is a change of body form in a life cycle, as from caterpillar to butterfly; it is no answer to losing a partner.
NCERT Extract:
Loss of Biodiversity – “… (iv) Co-extinctions: When a species becomes extinct, the plant and animal species associated with it in an obligatory way also become extinct. When a host fish species becomes extinct, its unique assemblage of parasites also meets the same fate. Another example is the case of a coevolved plant-pollinator mutualism where extinction of one invariably leads to the extinction of the other.”