Question

Paramecium is a single-celled protist that lives in freshwater habitats. In these conditions, Paramecium has evolved strategies to handle the potential consequences of inhabiting this hypotonic environment. One of these strategies could be (A) contractile vacuoles, which expel water forcefully (B) increased aquaporins in its cellular membrane (C) many cilia covering its surface (D) salt receptors on its surface to seek out less concentrated areas

Short answer

The best strategy for Paramecium to handle the consequences of a hypotonic environment is (A) contractile vacuoles, as they expel excess water, maintaining osmotic balance within the cell. Other strategies may be useful for other purposes, but not for handling a hypotonic environment.

Step-by-step solution

A hypotonic environment is a condition where the concentration of solutes outside the cell is lower than inside the cell. This causes water to flow into the cell due to osmosis. As a result, cells living in hypotonic environments have to develop certain strategies to prevent excessive water intake that can lead to their rupture or dysfunction. #Step 2: Analyze each given option#

Option A: Contractile vacuoles

Contractile vacuoles are organelles found in protists, like Paramecium, that function in osmoregulation. They collect excess water from the cytoplasm and expel it outside the cell, helping to maintain cellular osmotic balance.

Option B: Increased aquaporins

Aquaporins are proteins that regulate the transport of water and some small solutes across biological membranes. An increase in aquaporin levels would lead to an increased rate of water transport into the cell, which may not be a useful strategy in a hypotonic environment where the main concern is avoiding excessive water intake.

Option C: Many cilia

Cilia are hair-like structures found on the surface of some cells, such as Paramecium, which aid in locomotion and feeding. While they are important for the organism's survival, they do not directly address the consequences of a hypotonic environment.

Option D: Salt receptors

Salt receptors help organisms detect and respond to changes in salt concentrations in their environment. While this may help the organism navigate its surroundings, it does not specifically address the issue of handling the consequences of a hypotonic environment. #Step 3: Choose the best strategy for handling a hypotonic environment#

Based on our analysis, the best strategy for Paramecium to handle the consequences of a hypotonic environment is (A) contractile vacuoles, because they help in expelling excess water, thus maintaining osmotic balance within the cell. The other strategies may be useful for other purposes but do not directly address the issue of the hypotonic environment.