Question

Describe the movement of a volvox colony vs. a unicellular euglena. what structure(s) found on the euglena is used for locomotion?

Answer 1

Volvox colonies have coordinated movement towards light, while a unicellular euglena uses its flagellum and changes shape to move.

Step-by-step explanation:

The movement of a volvox colony and a unicellular euglena differ in several ways. Volvox colonies contain thousands of cells that move in a coordinated fashion, allowing the colony to swim towards light. On the other hand, a unicellular euglena uses two flagella for locomotion and is also able to change its shape to move.

In euglena, the structure used for locomotion is the flagellum. It is a whip-like tail that propels the cell through the water.

Answer 2

Euglena moves using a flagellum and by shape-shifting due to its flexible pellicle, while Volvox, a colonial organism, moves by coordinated flagellar movements of its many cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The movement and locomotion mechanisms of a Euglena and a Volvox colony differ due to their physiological structures. Euglena uses flagella for locomotion, having one long and one short flagellum which propels the organism through its watery environment. Moreover, Euglena is capable of changing its shape due to a flexible outer structure known as a pellicle, facilitating a secondary form of movement akin to that of an amoeba or slime mold.

On the other hand, the colonial organism Volvox consists of thousands of cells contained within a gelatinous matrix, each cell equipped with two flagella as well. The cells coordinate their flagellar action for the colony to move, demonstrating a simple form of specialization, and they are sensitive to light, enabling them to propel the colony towards light sources.