Make a Splash in 2025 with DIVE Biology – Conquer Quarterly Exam 2 with Confidence!

Water molds are a type of fungus that can exhibit both saprophytic and pathogenic behavior. As saprophytes, they decompose organic material, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling within ecosystems. Conversely, water molds can also be pathogenic, causing diseases in plants and aquatic animals. For example, the notorious pathogen Phytophthora infestans, responsible for the Irish potato famine, is a water mold that infects crops.

In contrast, slime molds primarily exist in a saprophytic form, feeding on decaying organic matter, and do not typically show pathogenic capabilities. Emerging viruses, while significant in public health contexts, do not classify as microorganisms like the molds. An inactivated vaccine refers to a type of vaccine prepared from virus particles that have been killed or inactivated, which does not fit the criteria of being either pathogenic or saprophytic. Therefore, the nature of water molds as capable of both pathogenic and saprophytic traits makes this choice the most accurate.