Moss sperm are motile and capable of swimming short distances to fertilize an egg. However, it was unknown until recently how sperm make their way from male to female gametophytes that may be separated by a distance of several centimeters or more. Researchers hypothesized that small animals called springtails (a type of arthropod) facilitate sperm transfer in mosses. To test this hypothesis, the researchers grew patches of male and female mosses at varying distances from each other and in the presence or absence of springtails. They later checked to see how many sporophytes were found in each female patch (as an indicator that fertilization had occurred). Their results are shown in the graph here (** means P<0.01, * means P>0.05. What conclusions can be drawn about the role of the springtails during the reproductive cycle of the mosses?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Examine the graph to understand the relationship between the presence of springtails and the number of sporophytes at different distances between male and female moss patches.
2. Note that the y-axis represents the mean number of sporophytes, and the x-axis represents the distance between male and female patches.
3. Observe that at 0 cm, both with and without springtails, there are sporophytes, but the number is higher with springtails.
4. At 2 cm and 4 cm distances, sporophytes are only present in the presence of springtails, indicating that springtails facilitate sperm transfer over these distances.
5. Conclude that springtails play a significant role in the reproductive cycle of mosses by aiding sperm transfer, especially over distances greater than 0 cm.