Suzanne Simard and colleagues knew that the same mycorrhizal fungal species could colonize multiple types of trees. They wondered if the same fungal individual would colonize different trees, forming an underground network that potentially could transport carbon and nutrients from one tree to another (S. Simard et al. 1997. Net transfer of carbon between mycorrhizal tree species in the field. Nature 388: 579-82 ). Pots containing seedlings of three different tree species were set up and grown under natural conditions for three years (Fig. A). Two of the three species (Douglas fir, birch) could form ectomycorrhizal connections with the same fungal species, but the third species (cedar) could not form an ectomycorrhizal connection with the fungal species. In some of the pots, the researchers placed airtight bags over the Douglas fir and birch seedlings and injected carbon dioxide made from carbon-13 into the bags with the Douglas fir and carbon dioxide made from carbon-14 into the bags with the birch. ¹³C and ¹⁴C are different isotopes of carbon that can be detected and measured by researchers.) As the seedlings photosynthesized, the carbon dioxide was converted into sugars that could be tracked and measured by the researchers. The researchers measured whether the sugars in each plant contained only the carbon isotope that was in the air of their plastic bag or also the carbon isotope from the air around the other plant. Referring to Simard et al. (1997), what is the result that would most strongly refute their hypothesis? [Hypothesis: Sugars made by one plant during photosynthesis can travel through a mycorrhizal fungus and be incorporated into the tissues of another plant. A. No movement: Carbon-14 is found in the birch seedling's tissues and carbon-13 in the Douglas fir. B. Reciprocal exchange: Carbon-14 is found in the Douglas fir seedling's tissues and carbon-13 in the birch. C. Either carbon-13 or carbon-14 is found in the fungal tissues. D. Either carbon- 13 or carbon- 14 is found in the cedar seedling's tissues.



Answer :

B. Reciprocal exchange: Carbon-14 is found in the Douglas fir seedling's tissues and carbon-13 in the birch, is the correct answer.

What is Carbon-14?

Carbon-14 (14C) or radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon with an atomic nucleus containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons.

Its presence in organic materials is the basis of the radiocarbon dating method pioneered by Willard Libby and colleagues (1949) to date archaeological, geological and hydrogeological samples.

Carbon-14 was discovered on February 27, 1940, by Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben at the University of California Radiation Laboratory in Berkeley, California. Its existence had been suggested by Franz Kurie in 1934.

What is Carbon-13?

Carbon-13 (13C) is a natural, stable isotope of carbon with a nucleus containing six protons and seven neutrons. As one of the environmental isotopes, it makes up about 1.1% of all natural carbon on Earth.

To learn more about Carbon-13: https://brainly.com/question/15131632  #SPJ4