Question

Write a note on nutrition in Paramecium.

Answer 1

Paramecium:

It is a genus of protozoa with unicellular ciliation found in freshwater, coastal, and brackish.

Nutrition in Paramecium:

1. The animal is heterotrophic.
2. By the ciliary motion, the food-laden water is drawn within, and it heads to the cytostome and the gullet.
3. The food present at the posterior end of the cytopharynx is loaded.
4. It is covered by vacuoles, pinches off into the endoplasm, and circulates.
5. Digestive enzymes in food vacuoles function upon the food.
6. Few species in Paramecium, for example, Paramecium bursaria, form a symbiotic relationship with green algae.
7. Algae occur as an endosymbiont in Paramecium and, by photosynthesis offer food to paramecium in exchange for healthy and secure habitat.
8. It may have bacteria identified as kappa particles that are intracellular.
9. They have the capacity to destroy other strains of paramecium with kappa particles.