Question

Which alternating generation is pictured below?

Answer 1

Spores

Gametophyte

Sporophyte

Gametes

Answer 2

Do you know anything about alternating generations or how ferns reproduce (sexually and asexually)?

Answer 3

so is game is gametophyte

Answer 4

so is gametophyte

Answer 5

The gametophyte produces gametes, and the sporophyte produces spores. You need to figure out whether the generation in that picture produces spores or gametes.

Answer 6

spores

Answer 7

So... if it produces spores, what generation is it?

Answer 8

Sporophyte

Answer 9

Right. In the case of ferns, conifers, flowering plants, and several other groups, the big leafy plant that you see is always going to be the sporophyte. Ferns have a free-living gametophyte too, but it's small and not so easy to spot.

Mosses are a bit different. In their case, the leafy plant that you see is actually the gametophyte, whereas the sporophyte is the little capsule on a long stalk (which is also part of the sporophyte) that you sometimes see sticking out of the top of a leafy moss plant.

Answer 10

so is sporophyte