siphonophores by emma gregory and seth brooks. what are siphonophores? siphonophores are a type of...
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SIPHONOPHORESBy Emma Gregory and Seth Brooks
WHAT ARE SIPHONOPHORES?
• Siphonophores are a type of plankton consisting of many different zooids (individual organisms) that grow from a single egg. These individual zooids are not able to survive on their own if they are separated from the colony.
WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?
• Siphonophores range widely in appearance. They can look like jellyfish, glowing lanterns, masses of tentacles, centipede-like creatures, or long, luminescent strings. They can grow up to 40 meters in length.
Right- Hula Skirt Siphonophore demonstrating the varied appearances of this type of plankton
WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A SIPHONOPHORE?
• Pneumatophore – A gas filled sac that is used to keep the siphonophores afloat.
Left- A Comb Jelly Siphonophore with a large pneumatophore
WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A SIPHONOPHORE?
• Nectosome – The nectosome contains the nectophores, which are specialized structures that propel the siphonophore forward.
Right- A photo of a Siphonophore’s nectosomes
WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A SIPHONOPHORE?
• Siphosome – The siphosome contains all the other parts of a siphonophore. These including polyps and medusa for catching and digesting food, transporting nutrients, reproduction, and defense.
Right- Diagram of a Siphonophore’s body plan
• Palpon – A type of polyp that has excretory and defense responsibilities.
• Bract – A type of polyp or medusa (debated) which plays a role as a barricade for the colony.
Right- Diagram of a Siphonophore’s body plan, including the Palpons and Polyps
HOW DO SIPHONOPHORES REPRODUCE?
All of the parts of a siphonophore develop from a fertilized egg called a protozooid. It then develops a pneumatophore, nectophores, and the remaining zooids it needs to survive.
Many siphonophore colonies are hermaphroditic, while some colonies are strictly male or female.
LIFECYCLE OF A SIPHONOPHORE 1. Egg is fertilized
2. Egg develops into a protozooid
3. All other zooids of the colony bud from the protozooid
4. Siphonophores grow symmetrically, adding new nectophores and siphosomes down the main stem
Right- Illustrated lifecycle of a Siphonophore
HOW DO SIPHONOPHORES EAT?
• Siphonophores are cnidarians, a group of organisms that use cnidocytes kill their prey.
• Cnidocytes are a type of cell that contain a hollow, dart-like structure. Once activated, these inject toxins into the other organism.
• After the animal has been stunned or killed, the siphonophore’s digestive parts engulf the prey.
Right- A Siphonophore covered in cnidocytes
WHAT DO SIPHONOPHORES EAT?
• All Siphonophores are predators, and they eat small fish, krill, crustaceans, and anything else that swims into their tentacles.
Right- A Portuguese Man-Of-War eating small fish
WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
• Siphonophores are common in most open and deep ocean ecosystems. They are very fragile and oftentimes small, which makes them hard to catch and to see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXDH23kIuhk
(Near shore siphonophore)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT1TSbarW1U
(Deep sea siphonophore)
HOW DO THEY EFFECT THE ECOSYSTEM?
• Siphonophores keep down populations of small fish and other types of zooplankton, which in turn helps the phytoplankton populations.
SIPHONOPHORES OF PUGET SOUND
• No information was found on types of Siphonophores in Puget Sound. Finding an unspecified type of siphonophore during a night dive is mentioned in someone’s personal blog, but this should be taken with a grain of salt.