You complete an experiment measuring the spread of the Cordyceps fungus across a forest environment. You measure the amount of growths you observe on the ground in a 1 acre area. After evaluating your experiment, you find that fungus frequently grows long fibers underground and only sprout reproductive parts above ground. How might this affect your data and/or conclusion?

A. The data is accurately measured so this does not affect the conclusion.

B. The data will have many outliers because of the underground growth and will not be accurate.

C. The data does not take into account underground growth and the actual area of fungus spread may be larger, so the original conclusion of the experiment is not accurate.

D. The data should be recounted to include the underground growth and the outliers will make the data more reliable

Answer: C. The data does not take into account underground growth and the actual area of fungus spread may be larger, so the original conclusion of the experiment is not accurate.

Explanation:

A fungus is a saprophytic organism which feeds over dead and decaying organic matter generated after the death of plants, animals and other living beings. The fungus exhibit a vegetative body which lies above the surface of ground which is responsible for reproduction by sexual and asexual modes. It exhibit thread like structure called as hyphae. The hyphae is penetrating in nature that penetrates the layers of soil so as to derive nourishment from the dead and decaying matter.

According to the given situation, the data will be incorrect to answer the fact that the total area covered by the fungus as the fungus not only grows above the ground but also covers the area underground. Hence, C is the correct option.

This seems to be the best answer: C. The data does not take into account underground growth and the actual area of fungus spread may be larger, so the original conclusion of the experiment is not accurate.