Final answer:
Gonozooids in a colonial organism like Obelia are specialized for reproduction and do not feed themselves; they rely on nutrients distributed through the coenosarc from prey digested by gastrozooids.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a colonial organism like Obelia, gonozooids are specialized polyps that are adapted for asexual reproduction and the production of sexual medusae. These gonozooids do not feed themselves directly; instead, Obelia features a common digestive system across the interconnected polyps.
This system, called a coenosarc, enables the distribution of nutrients absorbed by the gastrozooids—polyps which are specialized for capturing prey and feeding—to all parts of the colony, including the gonozooids.
The gastrozooids digest the prey and share the nutrients through the coenosarc with other polyps, including the gonozooids, which can then use these nutrients to support their reproductive functions.
Reproductive buds from the gonozooids break off to mature into free-swimming medusae, which are responsible for sexual reproduction. Because of the shared gastrovascular cavity, the entire colony sustains itself, with each type of polyp performing a specialized function.