Transplantation experiments are used to determine which of the following?

Transplantation experiments are a key method in ecological research used to establish the potential range of a species. These experiments involve moving individuals of a species from their native habitat to new locations to observe whether they can survive and reproduce in those areas. The outcomes of these experiments help researchers understand the possible distribution of a species under varying environmental conditions.

By assessing the performance of the transplanted individuals, scientists can infer the factors that limit the species' distribution in its natural habitat and identify areas where it might thrive if introduced. This understanding is critical because it reveals the potential range, which encompasses all areas where the species could theoretically exist given suitable conditions, without the constraints imposed by current environmental factors or competing species.

The other options such as effective range, actual range, and economic range pertain to different aspects of species distribution or resource allocation, which are not the primary focus of transplantation experiments. Effective range often considers factors like interactions with other species and environmental conditions that facilitate or hinder establishment, while actual range refers to the current distribution of a species as observed in nature. Economic range typically relates to the efficient utilization of resources in an ecological or economic context, which is distinct from the ecological inquiry that transplantation experiments aim to address.