Question

Euglena and several other protists that use their cilia or flagella to move around and gather food are classified along with the plant-like protists. What is the most logical conclusion that can be drawn from this grouping?

They are parasitic on plants and use the plant chloroplasts to photosynthesize.

They must also be able to gather energy through photosynthesis.

Their ancestors were plants that lost their multicellular characteristics.

There must be a point in their life cycle when they produce leaves.

Answer 1

Please help! Im stuck on this question, I am thinking between the first choice or the second. Can anyone please help!

Answer 2

I don't see the point of talking about plant-like protists and animal-like protists. Why not just call them heterotrophs/autotrophs/mixotrophs/etc. and leave it at that?

Answer 3

@Calliope has a good point. My understanding was that biologists are moving away from those archaic generalizations and terms (like protozoa) in favor of more specific ones

But anyways - you are correct, @Osmany_XD, in thinking that the answer lies between either choice one or two. The "plant-like" adjective is probably directing you at the fact that utilize photosynthesis. As for differentiating between the two choices, take a look at a diagram of Euglena, for example - and you should be able to figure the right answer

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Euglena_diagram.jpg/300px-Euglena_diagram.jpg

Answer 4

Technically, there are some protists that steal chloroplasts and then use them, but I wouldn't call them parasites. Such protists eat algae but don't fully digest them, so the chloroplasts from the algae are still able to function for a while. The predator protist then uses the chloroplasts until they stop working, at which point it goes back to being a heterotroph. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleptoplasty

Answer 5

Thank you all for your help, I went with my gut on the second choice and it was correct, thank you!