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Sycon Type Study

Sycon type pdf

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32 views3 pages

Sycon Type Study

Sycon type pdf

Uploaded by

md3618759
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Habit and Habitat of Sycon

Sycon is a marine sponge and remains attached to solid substrata like rocks, shells of
molluscs and corals. The different species of sponges under the genus do not tend to live at
greater depths in the ocean.

Structure of Sycon:

The sponges exhibit a great diversity in form.


They range from a very simple to more
complicated forms. Sycon occupies an
intermediate status from the point of
structural diversities. It has the form of
branched cylinders of about 2.5 to 7.6 cm. in
length. All the branches are connected
together at the base which remains attached
to the sub-stratum. Though the body has a
firm consistency, it is slightly flexible. Close
examination of the surface reveals the
presence of innumerable minute inhalant
pores or ostia. The free end of each cylindrical
branch possesses an opening at the summit.
This opening is known as osculum.

Nutrition, Respiration and Excretion in Sycon: The sponges feed on micro-organisms which
enter into the body along with the water current. The choanocytes engulf them and pass
them to the amoeboid cells situated below the choanocytes. The wall of the radial canal is
lined with choanocytes. The digestion takes place inside the amoeboid cells and assimilated
products are conveyed to the various parts of the body. Thus nutrition is holozoic and
digestion is intracellular, a process comparable to that of protozoans. Some amoeboid cells
often contain chlorophyll or green pigments and carry out autotrophic nutrition like green
plants. The presence of algae within the sponge body also helps in nutrition. Respiration
and excretion take place by diffusion. The contractile vacuoles are recorded in the
amoeboid cells of freshwater sponges which probably play important role in osmo-
regulation and excretion.

Prepared by MOJAHID
Reproduction

Sycon reproduces both asexually and sexually. During asexual reproduction it produces bud
and sometimes produces special bodies resembling the gemmules of fresh-water sponges.

During sexual reproduction, both sperms and ova are produced from the archaeocytes
which are present in the mesoglea.

It is claimed that the sex cells are also produced from adult choanocytes. The sperm cells
have long tails and swim freely in water current. The ova are amoeboid and wander
through the mesoglea. The ova may grow up in size by ingesting other cells. The sperm cell
does not enter the ovum directly. The union is assisted by a choanocyte. When sperm cells
enter the radial canal, the choanocytes which is nearer to the egg captures it.

The choanocyte which absorbs the sperm discards its flagellum and collar and comes very
near the egg. This choanocyte is named as the carrier cell. The sperm subsequently loses its
tail and enters the egg. The carrier cell is ultimately absorbed. The early development takes
place within the body of the mother sponge.

When the development is complete, the larva forces its way into the radial canal and finally
to the exterior.

Development

The fertilized egg or zygote divides repeatedly to form a round mass of cells. It is mostly
covered with homogeneous cells but at one end a few thickly granulated cells appear:

The homogeneous cells grow flagella and completely enclose the granulated cells.

Soon the cells at one half lose their flagella and become large and granular.

This stage is called amphiblastula stage and the larva in this stage leaves the parent body.

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Gradually the flagellated cells invaginate and finally the granular cells completely enclose
the flagellated cells.

The flagellated cells form the choanocyte lining while the granular cells give rise to the
dermal epithelium. The larva fixes itself to a substratum and an aperture called osculum
appears at the free end. Further growth results into the thickening of the wall within which
flagellate cells traverse and thus leads to the formation of radial canals. Numerous pores
appear on the sides to form inhalant apertures.

Prepared by MOJAHID

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