Use the following information to answer the question.
In the United States and Canada, bats use one of two strategies to survive winter. They either migrate south, or they hibernate. Recently, those that hibernate seem to have come under attack by a fungus, Geomyces destructans (Gd), an attack that is occurring from Missouri to New England, Canada, and even the state of Washington. Many infected bats have a delicate, white filamentous mat on their muzzles, which is referred to as white-nose syndrome (WNS). The fungus invades the bat tissues, causes discomfort, and awakens the bat from its hibernation. The bat fidgets and wastes calories, using up its stored fat. The bat then behaves abnormally, leaving its cave during daytime in winter to search for food. Their food, primarily insects, is scarce during the winter, and the bats ultimately starve to death. Since 2006, it is estimated that over six million bats have perished from WNS.
The Gd mat on the fur of the bats should be expected to consist of ________.
A) hyphae
B) haustoria
C) yeasts
D) basidia

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The delicate, white filamentous mat on the muzzles of infected bats is caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans (Gd), which invades bat tissues. This type of fungal growth is characteristic of hyphae, which are thread-like structures that make up the body of a fungus. Therefore, the Gd mat on the fur of the bats should be expected to consist of hyphae. Haustoria are specialized hyphae that penetrate host tissues for nutrient uptake, yeasts are single-celled fungi, and basidia are structures found in the fruiting body of certain fungi that produce spores. None of these structures are relevant to the Gd infection of bats.

Use the Following Information to Answer the Question