Final answer:
Chlorophyll in Volvox enables the photosynthetic algal cells to absorb light and carry out photosynthesis, creating food for growth and releasing oxygen. The colony moves towards light to optimize this process, demonstrating cellular specialization and coordination.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chlorophyll is a critical pigment found in the photosynthetic apparatus of plants and algae, including Volvox, a colonial green alga. Within a Volvox colony, chlorophyll enables the algal cells to absorb light, primarily in the blue and red spectra, and use this energy to drive the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis transforms light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, which is used for growth and development. It also produces oxygen as a byproduct.
The Volvox colony, comprising 500 to 60,000 cells, moves in a coordinated fashion towards light, guided by the eyespots of the cells at the front of the colony. This movement is essential for maximizing exposure to sunlight, optimizing chlorophyll absorption, and therefore enhancing the efficiency of photosynthesis. Additionally, only a few cells in the colony are specialized for reproduction, which demonstrates cellular specialization even within this simple colonial organism.