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prevent

lower

was not

united

higher

separated

was

facilitate

Source: Cronberg, N., Natcheva, R., and Hedlund, K. 2006. Science 313: 1255.

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Answer

In the above experiment, the researchers used springtails to help the transfer of sperm in mosses. They grew patches of male and female mosses at varying distances in the presence and absence of springtails and later checked for the number of sporophytes found in the female patch.

The data in the graph states that the mean number of sporophytes is higher in the presence of Springtails when compared to the absence of springtails. When the mosses were at a distance of 0cm the difference in the mean number of sporophytes in the presence and absence of springtails was not noteworthy.

Springtails facilitate the transfer of sperm since their presence led to significantly higher mean numbers of sporophytes. Their impact was especially important when male and female gametophytes were separated. The mean number of sporophytes formed in the presence and absence of springtails when male and female gametophytes were united with each other (i.e., separated by 0cm) was not significantly different.