Coevolution can be seen between some plants and animals, like the yucca plant and the yucca moth. The flowers are shaped specifically so that only the tiny moth can pollinate them.

Question

If the yucca moth goes extinct due to climate change or other human-generated factors, what would be the likely outcome for the yucca plant?

(1 point)
Responses

A new animal would evolve or adapt to take over the job of the yucca moth.
A new animal would evolve or adapt to take over the job of the yucca moth.

Humans would have to engineer a way to pollinate the plant.
Humans would have to engineer a way to pollinate the plant.

The yucca plant would also go extinct.
The yucca plant would also go extinct.

The yucca plant would evolve a new way to be pollinated.

Answer 1

The most likely outcome for the yucca plant, if the yucca moth goes extinct, is "The yucca plant would also go extinct."

This is because the yucca plant relies on the yucca moth for pollination, and without the moth, it would struggle to reproduce. While there is a possibility for other options like adaptation or human intervention, the dependence is specifically tied between these two species in a mutualistic relationship. If no alternative pollinator can effectively take over the role of the yucca moth, the yucca plant would face significant reproductive challenges and could ultimately go extinct.