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Question #46965
The Question
A coastal ecosystem experiences a 'red tide' due to the rapid multiplication of the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax. The neurotoxins released are ingested and stored by filter-feeding bivalves without harming them. However, a population of specialized, obligate bivalve-eating shorebirds suffers total mortality due to the concentrated toxins. Consequently, a species of host-specific feather mite living exclusively on these birds is completely eradicated. Which of the following statements regarding this ecological cascade is INCORRECT?
Options
- A.
The eradication of the feather mite represents 'Co-extinction', a phenomenon where the loss of a host species inevitably leads to the loss of its obligate associates.
- B.
The interaction between the blooming Gonyaulax and the marine organisms killed directly by its waterborne toxins is ecologically classified as Amensalism (-, 0).
- C.
The mass mortality of the shorebirds is primarily caused by biomagnification, where the concentration of the dinoflagellate toxin increases at successive trophic levels.
- D.
The initial rapid multiplication of Gonyaulax is triggered by a sharp increase in the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of the coastal waters.
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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
Dinoflagellate Bioluminescence and Toxins|Viroid vs Virus Distinction
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Confusing the cause and effect of water pollution parameters.
Students often associate 'Algal Blooms' directly with 'High BOD' but fail to sequence them chronologically.
Nutrient influx causes the bloom -> Bloom blocks light/depletes nutrients -> Algae die -> Bacteria decompose algae -> BOD spikes -> Dissolved Oxygen (DO) drops.
Stating that high BOD triggers the bloom is a fundamental chronological error.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Biological Classification - Class 11 |
| Concept | Dinoflagellate Bioluminescence and Toxins |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |