Question

Match the diseases to the pathogens that cause them. Diseases Pathogens P) Avian malaria i) Virus Q) COVID-19 in humans ii) Plasmodium R) Chytrid disease in frogs iii) Mosquito iv) Fungus

• A. P-i; Q-iii; R-iv
• B. P-iii; Q-i; R-ii
• C. P-iii; Q-i; R-ii
• D. P-iv; Q-i; R-ii

Hint:

When testing biogeographic hypotheses, look for trees where the geographic distribution of clades matches the predicted colonization pathway.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Identify the causal agents (pathogens).

Avian malaria is caused by \textit{Plasmodium} species (e.g., \textit{P. relictum}); mosquitoes are \emph{vectors}, not pathogens \(\Rightarrow\) ii.
COVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 \(\Rightarrow\) a virus \(\Rightarrow\) i.
Chytrid disease in frogs is caused by the chytrid fungus \textit{Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis} (Bd) \(\Rightarrow\) iv.

Step 2: Assemble the mapping.
P–ii,\quad Q–i,\quad R–iv \(\Rightarrow\) option (C). Final Answer:
\[ \boxed{\text{(C) P–ii;\; Q–i;\; R–iv}} \]