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Would an organism that is constantly in a hypertonic environment likely be an osmoregulator or an osmoconformer? Why?

a) Osmoregulator; it maintains internal osmotic balance.
b) Osmoconformer; it allows its internal osmolarity to match the external environment.
c) Osmoregulator; it allows its internal osmolarity to match the external environment.
d) Osmoconformer; it maintains internal osmotic balance.

User Haagenti
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Final answer:

In a hypertonic environment, an organism would likely be an osmoregulator, which actively maintains internal osmotic balance by regulating internal solute concentrations to retain water within cells and prevent dehydration.

Step-by-step explanation:

An organism that is constantly in a hypertonic environment would likely be an osmoregulator. Osmoregulators actively maintain an internal osmotic balance despite the external conditions. In a hypertonic environment, water tends to move out of the organism's cells, which could lead to dehydration and cell damage. Therefore, osmoregulators use energy to regulate their internal solute concentrations, retaining water within their cells and ensuring their internal environment remains isotonic or balanced.

In contrast, osmoconformers allow their internal osmolarity to match the external environment, which can be suitable for organisms in stable environments but would be problematic in a hypertonic environment. This is because continuous exposure to high external solute concentrations without regulation could lead to excessive water loss and impaired cell function.

User Mattia Nocerino
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