Question

Paul is studying a certain species of algae. The algae is unicellular, eukaryotic, and autotrophic. In the Linnaean system, the species is classified in Kingdom Protista. Based on this information, what can Paul conclude about the classification of the species into clades?
A. The species is classified with other protists into Clade Protista.
B. The species is classified with other protists into Clade Animalia.
C. The species is classified in a clade that does not include all protists.
D. The species, like other protists, is not classified in any clade.

Answer 1

Answer: C. The species is classified in a clade that does not include all protists.

The Kingdom Protists involves organisms which are simple in structure and functions. Some of these organisms have characteristics common to both plants and animals. A clade represents a group of organisms that have all characteristics common to their ancestor. The example of algea given here, has characteristics which are found mainly in plants belongs to Kingdom Plantea. Therefore, the clade of these Protists can be related with those of plants but cannot be related to Protists which exhibit animal like characteristics.  

Therefore, species is classified in a clade that does not include all Protists.