Answered: Briefly explain how this type of…

Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)

4th Edition

ISBN:9781305389892

Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan

Publisher:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan

Chapter25: The Origin Of Life

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1ITD

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Briefly explain how this type of reproduction is beneficial to your organism? Cite evidence from the text in the image to support your explanation.

Transcribed Image Text:Animal Profile: BRITTLE STAR (Ophiactis savignyi) Peer into the hole of a sea sponge and you may catch a glimpse of the brittle star Ophiactis savignyi. These creatures are tiny: only an inch or two across with ams stretched. They inhabit virtually all of the world's tropical and sub-tropical ocean habitats. Brittle stars are related to starfish. They have a similar body structure. The central disk holds all the important stuff like the mouth, stomach and re- productive organs. Then there are the armsHong, slender, wavy and edged with short spines. These arms are what give brittle stars their name. They can break off and regenerate. O. savignyi takes regeneration a step further. It actu- ally splits in half to reproduce. When fission hap- pens, the brittle star breaks down the middle of its disk to make two identical 3-armed halves. These half-stars then grow three new arms. But this isn't the only way O. savignyi reproduces. Like all brittle stars, they also reproduce sexually. At certain times of the year, large females and males raise their disks off the surface, balance on their legs, and release sperm and eggs into the ocean. When the spem and eggs meet, they make larvae that float away to new habitats. Fission is the main way that Ophiocomella repro- duce. But since they don't move far or fast, large groups of brittle star clones build up in one area. Scientists think sexual reproduction might help brittle stars move into new areas far from their clone-filled sponge homes.

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