Question

Coral roots are mycoheterotrophs which means they?

1) Obtain energy from the sun
2) Obtain energy from other plants
3) Obtain energy from fungi
4) Obtain energy from animals

Answer 1

Coral roots are mycoheterotrophs that obtain energy by absorbing nutrients from fungi, making option 3 the correct answer to the question.

Step-by-step explanation:

Coral roots, such as Corallorhiza, fall under a category of plants known as mycoheterotrophs. These plants have a unique method of obtaining nutrients since they are not capable of photosynthesis and do not produce their own carbohydrates. Instead, coral roots are completely reliant on their symbiotic relationship with fungi from which they obtain their entire nutritional requirement including energy and minerals. This biological setup means that coral roots absorb organic compounds provided by the fungus, which in turn obtains these from decaying organic matter in the ecosystem. Therefore, to answer your question, coral roots are organisms that obtain energy from fungi, making option 3 the correct choice.