You collect some pond water and filter out the different organisms into separate jars. You add no food to the water, but one kind of organism is still alive long after the others have died. That species is best described as being _________.
The species that is still alive long after the others have died can be described as being capable of survival without external nourishment or as being able to obtain nutrients from sources other than food.
To determine the best description of the organism that is still alive long after the others have died, we can use the process of elimination. Let's consider the different possibilities:
1. Aerobic: Aerobic organisms require oxygen to survive. If the organism is still alive long after the others have died, it is unlikely to be aerobic, as oxygen levels in the pond water would decrease over time. Therefore, we can eliminate this option.
2. Anaerobic: Anaerobic organisms are adapted to survive in environments without oxygen. If the organism is still alive long after the others have died, it might be an anaerobic organism that can thrive even in low-oxygen conditions. This is a possible description.
3. Autotrophic: Autotrophic organisms can produce their own food through processes such as photosynthesis. Since no food was added to the water, if the organism is still alive, it may be an autotrophic organism that can sustain itself by photosynthesizing. This is another possible description.
4. Heterotrophic: Heterotrophic organisms depend on organic matter or other organisms for food. Since no food was added to the water, if the organism is still alive, it is unlikely to be heterotrophic. Therefore, we can eliminate this option.
Based on the process of elimination, the best description for the organism that is still alive long after the others have died is either anaerobic or autotrophic. However, without additional information or testing, we cannot determine the exact nature of the organism.