Final answer:
Volvox is a colonial green alga that forms spherical colonies with cells connected by cytoplasmic bridges and coordinated movement, some cells specialize in reproduction, and they possess eyespots for phototaxis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Volvox is a colonial organism, forming spherical colonies made up of 500 to 60,000 individual cells. Each cell within a Volvox colony contains two flagella and is embedded in a gel-like matrix, connected to the other cells via cytoplasmic bridges. These cells demonstrate a division of labor; with only a few cells taking on reproductive roles to create daughter colonies. Notably, the cells in a Volvox colony exhibit coordinated movement.
One interesting aspect of the Volvox is their photosynthetic capability, thanks to chlorophytes, and their eyespots, which are more developed in cells at the front of the colony. This feature enables the Volvox to swim towards light, a behavior that showcases the blend of unicellular traits and multicellular organization.
The structure of Volvox is hollow, and they have a distinct front and back, with daughter colonies being formed inside the parent colony. Upon maturity, these daughter colonies must invert to expose their flagella outwardly to become separate, free-swimming entities.