[Campbell Biology P.1028] The term 'anhydrobiosis' is introduced in the text as an adaptation... | Practice Question

The term 'anhydrobiosis' is introduced in the text as an adaptation for animals living in temporary waters. What does anhydrobiosis primarily enable these animals to do?

  • A: Actively seek out new water sources during periods of drought.
  • B: Enter a dormant state to survive extreme dehydration.
  • C: Rapidly increase their metabolic rate to utilize scarce water efficiently.
  • D: Develop specialized gills to absorb atmospheric moisture.

Explanation

Anhydrobiosis is an adaptation that allows certain aquatic invertebrates, like tardigrades, to survive extreme dehydration when their temporary habitats dry up. They achieve this by entering a dormant state, where their metabolic activities are significantly reduced, enabling them to withstand almost complete body water loss.