You are given the task of designing an aquatic protist that is a primary producer. It cannot swim on its own, yet must stay in well-lit surface waters. It must be resistant to physical damage from wave action. It should be most similar to a(n)
A) diatom.
B) dinoflagellate.
C) apicomplexan.
D) red alga.
E) radiolarian.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Diatoms are unicellular algae that are known for their silica-based cell walls, which make them very resistant to physical damage. They are photosynthetic and can be found in the upper layers of water where there is good light penetration. They cannot swim on their own and rely on ocean currents for transportation.

You Are Given the Task of Designing an Aquatic Protist