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Question #46139
The Question
Endoparasitic Platyhelminthes, such as Taenia and Fasciola, exhibit extreme morphological and physiological adaptations to occupy specific niches within their hosts. If a mammalian host population undergoes a rapid evolutionary shift resulting in a permanent 2°C increase in its basal body temperature, which of the following best predicts the evolutionary fate of these parasites and the ecological principle involved?
Options
- A.
They will rapidly acclimate due to their high biotic potential, demonstrating the advantage of a eurythermal physiology in parasites.
- B.
They will face a high risk of extinction because their obligate endoparasitic lifestyle renders them strictly stenothermal, illustrating the trade-off between extreme niche specialization and physiological plasticity.
- C.
They will survive by migrating to peripheral host tissues, utilizing their protonephridia (flame cells) to actively dissipate excess thermal energy.
- D.
They will undergo immediate adaptive radiation, as their complex life cycles involving multiple intermediate hosts inherently confer broad abiotic tolerance.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Thermal_Tolerance_Ranges|Adaptive_Radiation_Logic|Parasitic_Niche
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often equate 'highly evolved/adapted' with 'resilient'.
In ecology, extreme specialization (like that of endoparasites) results in a narrow niche breadth (stenothermal nature), making them highly vulnerable to abiotic shifts.
The question also traps students who might misattribute thermoregulatory functions to flame cells (protonephridia) or misunderstand the fragility of complex parasitic life cycles.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Animal Kingdom - Class 11 |
| Concept | Platyhelminthes Parasitic Adaptations |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |