IB DP Biology- B4.2 Ecological niches- IB Style Questions For HL Paper 1A -New Syllabus
▶️ Answer/Explanation
✅ Answer: (B) I and III only
Question
The three-toed sloth, Bradypus variegatus, lives in tree tops where it feeds on leaves. It also feeds on algae and fungi which live in its fur.
In which trophic group should the three-toed sloth be classified?
A. Autotroph
B. Consumer
C. Detritivore
D. Saprotroph
▶️ Answer/Explanation
Answer: B. Consumer
Explanation:
Trophic groups classify organisms by how they obtain energy:
- Autotrophs make their own food (e.g., plants).
- Consumers eat other organisms.
- Detritivores feed on dead material but ingest it (e.g., earthworms).
- Saprotrophs secrete enzymes on dead matter and absorb nutrients (e.g., fungi).
Option Evaluation:
A. Incorrect – Sloths are not autotrophs; they don’t photosynthesize.
B. Correct – Sloths consume leaves and small organisms like algae and fungi. That makes them primary or secondary consumers depending on what they eat.
C. Incorrect – Detritivores eat dead material, which is not the sloth’s main diet.
D. Incorrect – Saprotrophs break down dead organic matter externally. Sloths don’t do this.