A composite organism is absent from a polluted locality. Its photosynthetic partner supplies food, while its fungal part

Practice question

Question

A composite organism is absent from a polluted locality. Its photosynthetic partner supplies food, while its fungal partner provides shelter and absorbs water and minerals. Which conclusion follows?

Options

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It is a mycorrhiza and the plant root prepares food. It is a lichen and can indicate air pollution. Correct It is a slime mould and forms a plasmodium. It is a cyanobacterial colony and forms heterocysts.

Explanation

The association is a lichen. The algal phycobiont prepares food, while the fungal mycobiont provides shelter and absorbs water and minerals. Because lichens do not grow in polluted areas, they indicate air pollution.

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