Question

Which of the following groups of organisms are ecologically similar?
(a) Producer protists and consumer protists
(b) Monerans and producer protists
(c) Consumer protists and fungi
(d) Monerans and fungi

Answer 1

Hint: Ecologically similar organisms occupy the same habitat but belong to different phylums. They obtain from convergent evolution where functions are the same but the structure is different.

Complete Answer:
Ecologically similar organisms are monerans and fungi because both are decomposer, commonly found on dead and decaying matter.
Kingdom monera includes prokaryotic organisms like bacteria. They occur in a variety of shapes and structures. They lack a well-developed nucleus, the cell wall is made up of peptidoglycans. Food reserve in the form of glycogen and fat. Several activities performed by bacteria is the decomposition of plant and animal bodies, sewage disposal, ammonification by reducing amino acids, nitrification to convert ammonia to nitrites and nitrate, nitrogen fixation in free form or symbiotic form, convert manure into gobar gas, useful in the dairy industry for making curd, yogurt and cheese, prepare alcohol and vinegar by fermentation, antibiotic production, bioleaching, genetic engineering, etc.

Additional information:
Fungi are a heterotrophic, spore-bearing achlorophyllous organism. Their cell wall is made up of cellulose. Fungi vary from single-cell yeast to multicellular complex form mushroom and bracket fungi. They may be saprophytic or parasitic. It also shows a symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria or algae. Fungi are useful in the production of alcohol and the same fungus is useful in the production of bread, saprophytic bacteria decompose dead and decaying matter, Neurospora uses to conduct genetic studies. Other useful activities include preparation of medicine, soil fertility, in preparation of medicine, as an insecticide, etc.

So, the correct answer is ‘Monerans and fungi’.

Note: Protist also shows some similarities with fungi like spore-producing fruiting bodies and parasitic nature that's why they do not consider ecologically similar because they are not found in the same habitat. Fungus like protists includes slime mould, water moulds, and downy mildews.