Trichomes are hairlike outgrowths of the epidermis of plants that are thought to provide protection against being eaten by herbivores (herbivory). In a certain plant species, stem trichome density is genetically determined
To investigate variation in stem trichome density within the plant species, a student counted the number of trichomes on the stems of six plants in each of three different populations. The student used the data
to calculate the mean trichome density (numbers of hairs per square centimeter) for each population. The results are provided in the table below.
TRICHOME DENSITY IN THE PLANT POPULATIONS number of trichomecm)
Population
Standard
Plant 1 Plant 2 Plant Plant Part 5 Plant
Sample
Error of the
Mean
Mean (SEMO
1
8 11
9
10 8
6 9
1
12
6
15
9
13
11
1
13 17 9
14 12
16
14
1
Based on the sample means and standard errors of the means, identify the two populations that are most likely to have statistically significant differences in the mean stem trichome densities. Justify your
response