What is the Adaptive Value of Natural Antibiotic Production for Fungi

Question

What is the adaptive value of natural antibiotic production for fungi?
A) Bacteria use fungi for food.
B) Bacteria spoil the food that the fungi need for their own nutrition.
C) Bacteria are the main competitors with fungi for food.
D) Bacteria inhibit the reproduction of fungi.

Accepted Answer

Bacteria are major competitors with fungi for food in the same ecological niche. Therefore, producing natural antibiotics helps fungi to inhibit the growth and restrict the propagation of these bacterial competitors, ultimately improving their own fitness and survival in their environment.