CNIDARIA - FEEDING AND NUTRITION

Question 1

How many forms of nutrition are there? What are they?

Answer 1

• 4
  1. predation - prey on smaller crustaceans and worms

2. Absorption - absorbing organic compounds dissolved in the water
3. Filer feeding - filtering food particles from the water
4. Obtaining nutrients from the symbiotic algae within their cells

Question 2

Process:

Answer 2

1. once the food reaches the gastrovascular cavity then the enzymatic gland cells in the gastrodermis release the proteolytic enzymes which digest the food extra-cellularly and reduces it to a fluid that is churned by the flagella to mix
2. The nutritive muscle cells then phagocytoses the small tissue fragments and digestion is done intracellularly within the food vacuoles
3. Indigestible particles are removed via the mouth
4. Main metabolic waste product is ammonium which is removed internally and externally via water