How are the autotrophic protists different from the heterotrophic protists?
The autotrophic protists can photosynthesize, while the heterotrophic protists cannot.
The heterotrophic protists can all move around, while the autotrophic protists are immobile.
The heterotrophic protists reproduce by spores, while the autotrophic protists form eggs.
The autotrophic protists eat by endocytosis, while the heterotrophic protists use pinocytosis.
The statement "The autotrophic protists can photosynthesize, while the heterotrophic protists cannot" is correct. Autotrophic protists have the ability to produce their own food through photosynthesis, using sunlight and carbon dioxide. Heterotrophic protists, on the other hand, cannot produce their own food and rely on consuming other organisms for their nutrition.
The statements "The heterotrophic protists can all move around, while the autotrophic protists are immobile" and "The heterotrophic protists reproduce by spores, while the autotrophic protists form eggs" are incorrect. The ability to move (locomotion) and the methods of reproduction can vary among both autotrophic and heterotrophic protists. There are motile autotrophic protists like certain types of algae, and immobile heterotrophic protists like some types of parasitic protozoans. Similarly, the methods of reproduction in both groups can vary and are not strictly limited to spores or eggs.
The statement "The autotrophic protists eat by endocytosis, while the heterotrophic protists use pinocytosis" is also incorrect. Both autotrophic and heterotrophic protists can use a variety of feeding mechanisms, including endocytosis and pinocytosis. These processes involve the engulfment of food particles or liquid respectively, into a cell through the cell membrane.