1THE PROBLEMS OF LIVING IN

SEA WATER
In an experiment, the marine ciliate Cothurnia was placed in
a series of dilutions of sea water, and the output of its
contractile vacuole was measured. In another experiment,
the change in the volume of the organism in different
dilutions of sea water was recorded.

The results are given in the table below:

Added fresh Contractile vacuole

Relative
Water % output /dm3 s-1 body
volume

0 0.65 1.000
10 0.56 1.075
20 1.10 1.175
30 1.00 1.280
40 1.51 1.451
50 2.40 1.600
60 6.31 1.785
70 18.25
2.010
80 35.10
2.092
90 9.55 2.035

(a) Plot these data using one graph but with different y
axes.

(b) With reference to the contractile vacuole output

curve, explain the effects of dilution on the activity
of the contractile vacuole.

(c) What do the changes in relative body volume

 indicate about the effects of the contractile activity?

(d) Some species of marine protozoa form contractile

vacuoles only when the animal begins to feed.
Suggest an explanation for this observation.
This is a microscope image of a freshwater species of
Cothurnia, attached to an alga.

This is how a contractile

vacuole works - in this case
in a species of Paramecium