Question

The fruit bodies belong to slime moulds. The correct statement for the organism is
1) They are connecting links between fungi and Protista.
2) They are called advanced protists.
3) They have mixotrophic nutrition.
4) They can locomote as Amoeba.
A) 1,3, and 4 are correct
B) 2,3, and 4 are correct
C) 1 and 4 are correct
D) 1,2, and 4 are correct.

Answer 1

Hint: The term slime mould refers to different kinds of unrelated eukaryotic organisms that can live freely as single cells. These single cells aggregate together to form multicellular reproductive structures. These organisms are closely related to plants, animals and fungi and belong to the kingdom Protista.

Complete answer: Slime molds belong to the kingdom Protista. They were earlier placed in the kingdom fungi. Protists are eukaryotic organisms but are not classified as animal, plant or fungus. Therefore, they are placed in a separate kingdom known as Protista. Various organisms such as Dinoflagellates, Euglenoids, Protozoans, Slime moulds and Chrysophytes are included in kingdom Protista. The organisms belonging to kingdom Protista are closely related to plants, animals and fungi. Therefore, they act as a connecting link between the two kingdoms fungi and Protista. Slime moulds are advanced protists as they are saprophytic protists. Saprophytic protists feed on dead or decaying organic matter for their nourishment. Their movement of locomotion varies depending upon the type of protist. Some protists are non-motile while some protists possess flagella or cilia for locomotion. Slime moulds locomote by using temporary extensions of their cytoplasm called pseudopodia similar to that of amoeba. They move their body along the decaying twigs and leaves engulfing organic material.
So, option D is the correct answer.

Note: Protists are further grouped as photosynthetic protists and heterotrophic protists. Various types of algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, and euglena are included in protists that are capable of photosynthesis. Protists called dinoflagellates live in marine environments and freshwater and are bioluminescent. Heterotrophic protists feed on other organisms for nutrition.