Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which feature seen in chytrids supports the hypothesis that they diverged early in fungal evolution?
A
Presence of flagellated spores
B
Ability to photosynthesize
C
Production of antibiotics
D
Formation of complex fruiting bodies
Verified step by step guidance
1
Begin by understanding the evolutionary significance of chytrids within the fungal kingdom. Chytrids are considered one of the most primitive groups of fungi.
Recognize that chytrids are unique among fungi because they produce flagellated spores, known as zoospores. This feature is crucial because it suggests a link to ancestral aquatic organisms.
Consider the evolutionary context: flagellated spores are indicative of an aquatic lifestyle, which aligns with early fungal evolution when fungi were likely aquatic before adapting to terrestrial environments.
Compare the presence of flagellated spores in chytrids with other fungi. Most fungi do not have flagellated spores, which supports the idea that chytrids diverged early from other fungal lineages.
Conclude that the presence of flagellated spores in chytrids is a key feature supporting the hypothesis of their early divergence in fungal evolution, as it represents a primitive trait not found in more derived fungi.