A filamentous alga X is found in ponds, lakes and slow-moving streams. The filament of this alga simply breaks into two (or more) pieces on maturing and each piece then grows to become a complete new alga.
(a) Name an alga which X is likely to be.
(b) What is the colour of X?
(c) What is the method of forming new algae by the breaking of parent alga known as?
(d) An Amoeba also breaks up to form two daughter Amoebae. What is the difference in the splitting of Amoeba and splitting of this alga as a method of reproduction?
(e) Name one marine animal which reproduces in the same way as alga X.
Answer :
(a) The alga X is likely to be Spirogyra.
(b) The alga is green in colour.
(c) This mode of forming new alga from the breaking-up of the parent alga is termed as fragmentation.
(d) The splitting of Amoeba is termed as fission, which occurs only in unicellular organisms. The splitting of alga is termed as fragmentation, which occurs only in multicellular organisms.
(e) Sea anemone reproduces in the same way as the alga X.