Question

Compare and contrast feeding mechanisms of the Tunicates and the Bivalves, using examples from your practical activities to support each point as you make it. Images or diagrams can be included here, if you would like, but make sure they are clear, large and legible.

Answer 1

The feeding mechanism of tunicates are that of filter feeders, wherby the feeding by drawing of litres of water everyday through the inhalant siphon. Water is then passed through the pharynx where the small particles are filtered and eliminated out before the water is removed through the process of exhalent siphon. Eg. Most of all the tunicates feed on the suspension . It captures planktonic particles by filtering water form sea through their bodies. Also, Ascidians which are mainly in their digestive processes, but other tunicates have same ststems. Water is absorbed into the body through the bucval siphon by the action of cilia which lining the gill slits.

Bivalves:

Most of the bivalves are filter feeders. They yses their gills to capture food such as phyplankton which present in water. The protobranchs feed in a different way by scrapping thr detritus from the seabed and that may be original mode of feeding used by all the bivalents before the gills became adapted for the process of filter feeding.