Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): Oligotrophs can grow in environments with very low levels of nutrients
Statement (II): Oligotrophs exhibit slow growth, low rate of metabolism and low population density as compared to copiotrophs
In light of the above statements,choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are false.
• B. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are true.
• C. Statement (I) is true but Statement (II) is false.
• D. Statement (I) is false but Statement (II) is true.

Hint:

The prefix "oligo-" means few or small, indicating that oligotrophs are adapted to environments with very few nutrients, resulting in slow growth and low metabolic rates.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Microorganisms can be classified based on the nutrient concentrations of the environments they are adapted to inhabit, primarily separating them into oligotrophs and copiotrophs.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate both statements describing oligotrophs:
Statement (I) defines the growth environment of oligotrophs.
An oligotroph is an organism adapted to survive and grow in nutrient-poor environments, such as deep oceanic waters, glacial ice, or deep aquifers, where nutrient concentrations are extremely low.
Therefore, Statement (I) is correct.
Statement (II) compares the physiological traits of oligotrophs with copiotrophs.
Copiotrophs are adapted to nutrient-rich environments and exhibit rapid growth rates, high metabolic activity, and high population densities when nutrients are available.
In contrast, oligotrophs are adapted to scarce resources and possess high-affinity uptake systems, slow growth rates, low metabolic activity, and maintain low population densities to avoid exhausting local resources.
Therefore, Statement (II) is also correct.
Because both statements are true, the correct choice is that both statements are true.

Step 3: Final Answer:
This matches option (B).