Urochordata & Cephalochordata : Ecological Roles and Habitat Use

Both urochordates and cephalochordates use their aquatic environments to obtain food and nutrients (Campbell et al. 1999).  Additionally, both play important, critical roles in the ecology of the earth.  Urochodates, known as tunicates and sea squirts, are an important part of coral reef systems around the world (Mead et al. 1998).  Coral reef systems host an enormous array of life and can "host more broad divisions of life-forms than can be found anywhere above the sea" (Mead et al. 1998).  Urochordates make up an important part of the coral reef community (Wong 2001).  For instance, sea squirts, along with sponges, bivalves and lugworms, line the cavities of coral reef and help filter phytoplankton out of ocean water (Wong 2001).  By filtering this water through the coral's "labyrinth structure" and then excreting nutrients like ammonia and phosphate, these organisms "provide a major source of food for the coral" and may play a large role in the survival and ability of coral reefs to thrive from generation to generation (Wong 2001).  Since coral reefs provide nutrients and shelter to an innumerable amount of aquatic organisms, it can be seen why the filtering ability of the sea squirt, along with the subsequent thriving of the coral reef, is important in the overall ecosystem of the earth.  

A Common Tunicate, Ciona, Showing The Internal Structure Of The Urochordata.

http://www-biol.paisley.ac.uk/courses/Tatner/biomedia/pictures/ciona.htm

(permission pending)

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