In tunicates, sexual reproduction occurs through individuals that are what?

In tunicates, sexual reproduction occurs through individuals that are what?

• A. Hermaphrodites
• B. Dioecious
• C. Parthenogenetic
• D. Asexual-only

Answer: (A)

In tunicates, sexual reproduction is typically carried out by individuals that are hermaphrodites. This means a single animal has both male and female reproductive organs and can produce both eggs and sperm. For these sessile, filter-feeding organisms, having hermaphroditic individuals increases mating opportunities: any one individual can contribute gametes to the population, and fertilization occurs when eggs and sperm meet in the surrounding water. The resulting embryos develop into free-swimming larvae that can disperse to found new colonies. While some tunicates can be dioecious or reproduce asexually in colonial forms, the common mode of sexual reproduction involves hermaphroditic individuals.

In tunicates, sexual reproduction is typically carried out by individuals that are hermaphrodites. This means a single animal has both male and female reproductive organs and can produce both eggs and sperm. For these sessile, filter-feeding organisms, having hermaphroditic individuals increases mating opportunities: any one individual can contribute gametes to the population, and fertilization occurs when eggs and sperm meet in the surrounding water. The resulting embryos develop into free-swimming larvae that can disperse to found new colonies. While some tunicates can be dioecious or reproduce asexually in colonial forms, the common mode of sexual reproduction involves hermaphroditic individuals.