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Question #46107
The Question
The evolutionary transition to bilateral symmetry and cephalization allowed animals to adopt active motility and optimal foraging strategies. However, this centralization of the nervous system imposes a significant metabolic cost. Which of the following statements regarding these evolutionary and physiological trade-offs is INCORRECT?
Options
- A.
Cephalization, initially established in Platyhelminthes, concentrates sensory organs anteriorly, facilitating directed movement to meet high metabolic demands.
- B.
Bilateral symmetry allows the organism to receive sensory stimuli equally from all directions, thereby maximizing optimal foraging to sustain the high energy budget of the central nervous system.
- C.
In endotherms, the high metabolic rate required to sustain a complex nervous system is subject to thermoregulatory constraints, such as minimizing surface area-to-volume ratio in colder climates according to Allen’s rule.
- D.
The metabolic trade-off of maintaining a highly developed central nervous system necessitates a shift towards more efficient nutrient acquisition and strict energy budgeting.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
Optimal_Foraging_Theory|Symmetry_and_Cephalization_correlation|Surface-to-Volume_Ratio
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Functional confusion between Radial and Bilateral symmetry.
Students often assume that because bilateral symmetry is evolutionarily 'more advanced', it provides superior sensory input from all directions.
In reality, radial symmetry is specifically adapted for omnidirectional environmental interaction (ideal for sessile or passively drifting organisms), whereas bilateral symmetry evolved strictly for active, directed, unidirectional motility.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Animal Kingdom - Class 11 |
| Concept | Symmetry and Cephalization correlation |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |