Cnidaria and Ctenophora

Used to be just one phylum -Coelenterata (hollow gut). 1) Cnidaria - hydra and jellyfishes 2) Ctenophora - comb jellies

Common Features of two phylum: 1) All have radial or biradial symmetry. 2) Good tissue level of organization with very few organs, therefore no true organ systems. 3) diploblastic (mostly endoderm and ectoderm); some spp. having mesoderm, therefore referred to as tripoblastic. 4) Internal body cavity (gastrovascular cavity-GVC) lined with specialized tissue (gastroderm). There is only one opening that (serves mouth and anus) is intake and excretion of materials through the same opening, 5) Extracellular digestion within GVC and intracellular digestion within gastrodermal cells. Intercellular transport digested (soluble) nutrients. 6) Tentacles/extensible projections which usually surround mouth and primarily aid in food capture and secondarily in defense. 7) Have nerve cells of primitive/simple type (protoneurons) arranged as nerve net with no true central nervous system (CNS). 8) Do posses some specialized sense organs, though simple. a) Statocysts : equilibrium sensation. b) Ocelli : photo sensation ("eyes") contain photo-sensitive chemicals and allow sensation of light and orientation with regard to light direction. 9) Locomotion in some spp. by muscular contractions or ciliary combs (Ctenophora members). Both phylum adapted to free floating than swimming due to their radial/ biradial symmetry. 10)Appearance of polymorphic forms within certain spp. a) sessile (polyp) form : "hydra-like" .

b) mobile (free-swimming or floating) medusae form. c) sp. of Cnidaria can exist as a polyp form. 11) Specialized , unique features a) Nematocysts : stinging organelles in specialized cells of Cnidaria spp. b) Colloblasts : adhesive organelles in Ctenophora spp. c) Ciliary comb plates : used for locomotion and food capture in Ctenophora.

Phylum Cnidaria
(Gr. knide = nettle: stinging structures; L. aria = pl. suffix like/connection with) 9,000 spp. All have specialized stinging cells (cnidocytes) containing stinging organelles (nematocysts). Specific characteristics: 1) Entirely aquatic; mostly marine, some freshwater spp. do exist. 2) Radial symmetry (biradial some spp.) Defined oral/aboral ends (anterior/posterior). 3) Polyps and medusae in nearly all Cnidarian spp. 4) Exoskeleton/endoskeleton one of usually three types: a) Chitinous material : derived from polysaccharide chitin which is polymer modified glucose (glucosamine) glucose -> NH2 -> amino group. b) Calcareous (calcium-carbonate) skeletal material sometimes making up Cnidarian corals (colomoid sessile forms). c) Protein material. 5) Mostly diploblastic with mesoglea. Some tripoblastic spp. 6) GVC (mouth) surrounded by cnidocyte containing tentacles. 7) Hemocysts within cnidocytes. Used for food capture and defense.

8) Nerve net. 9) Locomotion by muscular contractions and movement (swimming) using the tentacles. 10) Reproduction either asexually or sexually. a) asexual: budding (polyp form). b) sexual: fusion of true gametes -> zygote. free-swimming larva -metamorphose-> mature adult. 11) No true excretory/respiratory system: excretion of wastes. simple diffusion in gas exchange. 12) No true coelomic cavity. Thus name change. Instead have GVC.

Form and Function 1) Polymorphism: a) sessile polyp form (hydroid) : adapted to sedimentary (within sediments) or sessile (attached to substrata). b) mobile medusae form (jelly-fish-shaped) free-floating and/or free-swimming. 2) Nematocysts discharge: a) cnidocyte : stinging cell. b) nematocysts : stinging organelle. 1) Undischarged nematocyst: Cnidocil - extraorganellular and extracellular nettle-like extension which triggers discharge of nematocyst. Operculum - lid like covering which closes nematocyst and opens upon discharge of nematocyst. Barb - sharp, thread-like structure; folded up inside undischarged nematocyst. Filament - long, thread- like structure; tightly coiled and compacted within undischarged nematocyst. 2) Mechanism of discharge: a) Buildup of osmotic pressure (turgor pressure) due to osmosis of water. Provides the potential energy, which is later converted into kinetic energy which discharges the barb and the filament. 140 atmospheres of osmotic pressure within undischarged nematocyst. b) Triggering and increase in hydrostatic pressure.

1) contact of cnidocil with object or organism. 2) increase in nematocyst membrane permeability to water (allows water influx to increase hydrostatic pressure). Original high osmotic pressure within nematocyst. Must have low H2O and high solutes = high osmotic pressure. Q: how does high solute occur? A: active transport energy requiring transport of solutes against a gradient. c) Changes occur within nematocyst membrane which cause water to be taken up very quickly and solute active transport increases rapidly to facilitate osmosis into the organelle. d) High hydrostatic pressure.

Classification
1) Class Hydrozoa (water + animal); Genus Hydra; Species Hydra sp. (one), Hydra spp. (many). All cnidaria are aquatic (some marine, some freshwater). Hydra - freshwater hydrozoan. a) body plan polar : distinct anterior and posterior regions. 1) Posterior - basal disc for attachment to substrata (polyp form-sessile). 2) Anterior - hypostome - oral opening into GVC; located below tentacles. Hydroid colonies: a) For hydra, asexual individual will arise and remain attached to parent. If all offspring remain attached along with subsequent offspring colony of many genetically identical hydra individuals. b) Some cases of sexually-derived, genetically distinct colonies can occur if a hydra bearing eggs within an ovary, is fertilized. c) Some individual hydra buds break off and live independently or can start their own colony. d) Polyp forms 1) Medusae (freshwater forms) typically reproduce sexually. Some spp. tend exist primarily in medusal form (preferred by some spp. Environmental factors and geological location play a role in which form is favored. 2) Some asexual reproduction in medusal spp. results in "floating colonies"; aggregate of polyp and medusal forms.

2) Class Scyophozoa (true jelly-fishes) - medusal form predominates. a) Major representatives include larger, cap-shaped (bell-shaped) jelly fishes. 3) Class Cubozoa (cube-shaped, jelly-fish-like cnidarians) - medusal form predominates. 4) Class Anthozoa - polyp form predominates. a) sea anemones. 5) Class Anthozoa - flower-like animal a) Polyp form predominates. b) Sessile, pigmented organism with many pigmented tentacles. c) Larger than hydra with thicker body wall. d) Some with true triploblastic tissue arrangement and/or mesoderm (mesoglea still persists w/ some specialized cells embedded w/in gelatinous matrix). e) Some will form calcareous stony corals. Many coral reefs formed by these.

Phylum Ctenophora
General characteristics

1) Biradial symmetry in most spp. 2) Ellipsoidal body shape 3) Mostly triploblastic 4) Only one sp. having cnidocytes w/ nematocysts; All spp. have coloblasts = adhesive cells. 5) GVC 6) Statocyst sense organs : controlling equilibrium. 7) No polymorphism. 8) Reproduction sexually in monoecious individuals (both male and female sex cells produced by some individuals. 9) Luminescence (biochemical light production process involving enzymatic hydrolysis of ATP).

Comparison with Cnidaria

1) Radial symmetry 2) True aboral-oral axis (polarity) 3) Mesoglea in all spp. 4) GVC (not a true coelomic cavity) 5) Diffuse nervous system. Very simple and unspecialized. 6) Lack true organ systems.

Contrast of Phyla Cnidaria and Ctenophora

1) Except one species of Ctenophorans, no stinging cells. 2) Mesoglea of Ctenophoras more specialized than Cnidarians (mesenchyme layer which can develop into true muscle tissue)- much more specialized than in Cnidarians- allows more efficient swimming. 3) Specialized structures, which include comb plates (ciliated and work in locomotion and food capture and colloblasts. 4) Mosaic pattern of development whereby collection of genetically distinct groups of cells are located throughout body. 5) GVC specialization esp. near oral/anal opening; pharynx connecting w/ oral/anal opening w/ center of GVC. 6) No polymorphism. 7) No colonial forms (free-living and living independently) 8) Simple anal openings at anterior end of organism for excretion (primarily of soluble wastes).

Classification

Class Tentaculata - most representative type of phylum Ctenophora. Have tentacles, used mainly for food capture, (ciliated and usually w/out cnidocytes). Comb plates ciliated structures used mostly swimming. Class Nuda - lack tentacles.

Radiate Animals: Phyla Cnidaria & Ctenophora 1

Biological Sciences 102 Animal Biology Notes & Vocabulary

Important Characteristics of Members of the Phyla Cnidaria and Ctenophora

two embryological primary germ layers (ectoderm and endoderm) that are homologous to those of more complex metazoans internal space for digestion, the gastrovascular cavity, which lies along the polar axis and opens to the outside by a mouth some cnidarians have a skeleton (eg. coral), but in most radiates, fluid in the gastrovascular cavity serves as a simple form of hydrostatic skeleton. Although both cnidarians and ctenophores are grouped together as radiate phyla, they differ in important ways: o cnidarians have characteristic stinging organelles called nematocysts, usually absent in ctenophores. o polymorphism- the presence in a species of more than one morphological kind of individual- is common in cnidarians but absent in ctenophores. o ctenophores have distinctive adhesive cells called colloblasts on their tentacles and unique rows of ciliated comb plates not found in other phyla There are two main types of body form in cnidarians: 1. polyp (hydroid) form, often sessile. 2. medusa (jellyfish) form, which is free-swimming. In some groups of cnidarians, both polyp and medusa stages are found in their life cycle. These animals are therefore polymorphic. In others, such as sea anemones and corals, there is no medusa; in still others, such as the scyphozoans, or "true" jellyfish, the polyp stage is reduced or absent. In life cycles having both polyps and medusae, the juvenile polyp stage gives rise asexually to a medusa, which reproduces sexually. Both polyp and medusa have the diploid number of chromosomes, but the gametes are haploid.

Phylum Cnidaria: Radiate Animals

Average Sizes millimeters to meters (colonial corals) Life Span highly variable years? Symmetry & Body Plan radial symmetry no cephalization oral and aboreal ends Development & Coelom Formation true tissues no coelom free swimming ciliated larval forms polymorphism with polyp and medusa stages; polyp stage reduced in some species; medusa stage reduced in some species diploblastic body plan with endoderm and ectoderm; a few have simplified mesoderm

Radiate Animals: Phyla Cnidaria & Ctenophora 2

Biological Sciences 102 Animal Biology Notes & Vocabulary Type of Skeleton hydrostatic skeleton Appendage Types none really tentacles, although these are not typically considered appendages Basic Form & Function diploblastic body plan with an epidermal and gastrodermal layer cnidocytes with nematocysts (stinging cells) gastrovascular cavity with single opening that is both mouth and anus extracellular digestion occurs in the gastrovascular cavity with digestion of food products contuining in the gastrodermis.

 Most have tentacles or extensible projections around the oral end for food capture nerve net with no centralized nervous system have statocysts sense organs for balance and ocelli for detecting light mesoglea which provides for support and acts as a type of elastic support skeleton between the epidermis and the gastrodermis first neuromuscular system developed Specialized Cell Types epitheliomuscular cells = cnidocytes with nematocysts gland cells that secrete digestive enxymes interstitial cells which undifferentiated cells scattered among other cells that can become other cells as necessary sensory cells for tactile or chemical stimuli Organ Systems Integumentary System (skin) epidermis that can contain epitheliomuscular, neurosensory cells and cnidocytes Muscular System epitheliomuscular cells - not true skeletal muscle yet developed Circulatory System none nutritent/waste removal by diffusion/osmosis/cell transport (phagocytosis/pinocytosis) Respiratory System (gas exchange) none gas exchange by simple diffusion Nervous System nerve net with protoneurons (most are multipolar = look like a stereotypical neuron) Sensory Organs mechanoreceptors that respond to tactile stimulation chemoreceptors that respond to chemical/molecular stimulation Digestive System (food/water supply) intracellular by diffusion/osmosis/cell transport (phagocytosis & pinocytosis) mostly carnivorous

Radiate Animals: Phyla Cnidaria & Ctenophora 3

Biological Sciences 102 Animal Biology Notes & Vocabulary Immune System none (?) Excretory System (waste removal) none waste removal by diffusion/osmosis/cell transport Reproduction asexual reproduction regeneration by budding (in polyps) sexual reproduction by eggs and sperm (gametes produced by medusae) monoecious or dioecious reproduction depending on species and portion of lifecycle ciliated planula (flattened) larval form Mechanism/Mode of Locomotion free swimming ciliated larval forms polyps are sessile medusae are free-swimming Specialized Defenses/Toxin/Poisons organic or protein based toxins released from nematocytst on tentacles Ecology & Adaptive Radiation marine and freshwater Social Organization none Communication none(?)

Thermoregulation none

Phylum Ctenophora: Radiate Animals

Average Sizes millimeters to centimeters Life Span months to years? Symmetry & Body Plan biradial symmetry no cephalization ellipsoidal or spherical in shape Development & Coelom Formation true tissues no coelom free swimming ciliated larval forms NO polymorphism diploblastic body plan with endoderm and ectoderm with mesoderm; some consider these to be triploblastic