Juvenile Plants Found Growing on Bare Ground and in Patches of Vegetation for Five Species

\[
\begin{tabular}{|l|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
\multicolumn{1}{|c|}{Species} & \begin{tabular}{c} Bare \\ ground \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} Patches of \\ Vegetation \end{tabular} & Total & \begin{tabular}{c} Percent found in \\ patches of vegetation \end{tabular} \\
\hline
T. moroderi & 9 & 13 & 22 & [tex]$59.1 \%$[/tex] \\
\hline
T. libanitis & 83 & 120 & 203 & [tex]$59.1 \%$[/tex] \\
\hline
H. syriacum & 95 & 106 & 201 & [tex]$52.7 \%$[/tex] \\
\hline
H. squamatum & 218 & 321 & 539 & [tex]$59.6 \%$[/tex] \\
\hline
H. stoechas & 11 & 12 & 23 & [tex]$52.2 \%$[/tex] \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\]

Alicia Montesinos-Navarro, Isabelle Storer, and Rocio Perez-Barrales examined several plots within a diverse plant community in southeast Spain. They calculated that if individual plants were randomly distributed on this particular landscape, only about 15\% would be with other plants in patches of vegetation. The researchers counted the number of juvenile plants of five species growing in patches of vegetation and the number growing alone on bare ground. They compared these numbers to what would be expected if the plants were randomly distributed. Based on these results, they claim that plants of these species that grow in close proximity to other plants gain an advantage at an early developmental stage.

Which choice best describes data from the table that support the researchers' claim?

A) For all five species, less than [tex]$75 \%$[/tex] of juvenile plants were growing in patches of vegetation.

B) The species with the greatest number of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was [tex]$H$[/tex] stoechas.

C) For T. libanitis and T. moroderi, the percentage of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was less than what would be expected if plants were randomly distributed.

D) For each species, the percentage of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was substantially higher than would be expected if plants were randomly distributed.

Sure, let's analyze the question and the data provided:

The table gives us information about the number of juvenile plants found growing on bare ground and in patches of vegetation for five species. We are also given the percentage of plants found in patches of vegetation, and we need to compare this with the expected percentage of 15% if the plants were randomly distributed.

First, let's summarize the data for each species:

1. T. maraderi
- Bare ground: 9
- Patches of Vegetation: 13
- Total: 22
- Percentage in patches: 59.1%

2. T. libarifis
- Bare ground: 83
- Patches of Vegetation: 120
- Total: 203
- Percentage in patches: 59.1%

3. H. syriacim
- Bare ground: 95
- Patches of Vegetation: 106
- Total: 201
- Percentage in patches: 52.7%

4. H. squamatum
- Bare ground: 218
- Patches of Vegetation: 321
- Total: 539
- Percentage in patches: 59.6%

5. H. stouchas
- Bare ground: 11
- Patches of Vegetation: 12
- Total: 23
- Percentage in patches: 52.2%

Now, let's evaluate the given choices based on this information:

Choice A: For all five species, less than 75% of juvenile plants were growing in patches of vegetation.

- This statement is true, but it does not address the key comparison with the expected 15%.

Choice B: The species with the greatest number of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was H. stoechas.

- While it's true that H. stoechas has a considerable number of juvenile plants in patches, it does not support the comparison with the expected 15%.

Choice C: For T. libanitis and T. maroderi, the percentage of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was less than what would be expected if plants were randomly distributed.

- This is incorrect. Both T. libanitis and T. maroderi have percentages (59.1%) which are much higher than the expected 15%.

Choice D: For each species, the percentage of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was substantially higher than would be expected if plants were randomly distributed.

- This is the correct choice. Each species has a percentage much higher than the expected 15% in patches of vegetation:
- T. maraderi: 59.1%
- T. libarifis: 59.1%
- H. syriacim: 52.7%
- H. squamatum: 59.6%
- H. stouchas: 52.2%

Therefore, the best choice that describes data from the table supporting the researchers' claim that plants growing close to others gain an advantage is:

Choice D: For each species, the percentage of juvenile plants growing in patches of vegetation was substantially higher than would be expected if plants were randomly distributed.