Biophysics problem volvox is a multicell. spherical green algae that lives in fr
ID: 38780 • Letter: B
Question
Biophysics problem
volvox is a multicell. spherical green algae that lives in fresh water and can grow to be 2mm in diameter. volvox needs CO2 and light to produce energy to survive. assume a single volvox is sitting in a still pong with CO2concentrations c0 and assume that every CO2 molecule that hits the surface of the volvox is absorbed. Question: If volvox needs to consume some quantity of CO2 per unit time per unit volume P in order to survive, determine the maximum size of this organism that could be found in this lake.
Explanation / Answer
Volvox is a genus of chlorophytes, a type of green algae. It forms spherical colonies of up to 50,000 cells.
The two common species in are Volvox aureus and Volvox globator. Volvox aureus is usually smaller and has less individual cells. Volvox globator may reach a size of 2 millimeters so they can be easily seen with the naked eye. If you are short sighted the larger Volvox aureus colonies can also be visible with a size of half a millimeter as small green dots.
Although the colony is bigger, the individual cells of Volvox globator are slightly smaller (4 micron) than the cells of Volvox aureus (5 to 8 micron). The cells of Volvox aureus are also a bit more egg-shaped. An easier way to determine the species is to look at the sexual reproduction of Volvox.
Volvox can be found relatively easy. They need quite clean nutrient rich water (Eutrophic) and it has to be warm so summer is the time of the year for a good Volvox catch. In a jar of pond water they will swim towards the light so they are often easy to find near the surface.
When nutrients are abundant, as in some polluted waters, algal cell numbers can become great enough to produce obvious patches of algae called
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