Question

How fast do rotifers reproduce?

Answer 1

Rotifers belong to the phylum rotifera and are also known as wheel animals. It is a small group of aquatic animals which possess a wheel like ciliated organ that are for swimming and feeding purposes.

Complete answer-
Let us begin with gathering some information about Rotifers. These are mostly found in freshwater environments but some can be seen in salty water too. These can either be free-living like a planktonic species, or can be stationary which lives inside a tube. It contributes to the decomposition of soil organic matter and is also the chief source of food as the maximum part of freshwater is the zooplankton.
Rotifers are multicellular organisms that produce new daughter cells through sexual mode of reproduction. They possess both male as well as female reproductive organs and so are dioecious in nature. During the favorable conditions, the female Rotifers produce up to seven eggs simultaneously, without the genetic help of a male rotifer. All these eggs are identical to each other and may hatch in around 12 hours to form new daughter cells.

Additional information-
Rotifers have an elongated, transparent and cylindrical body. It possesses bilateral symmetry. They are 0.1-1mm in length. It’s body has more than two cell layers with tissues and organs. It’s anterior end contains a crown of cilia called the corona i.e. organized into wheel like ciliary organs from where the name of the group is derived.

Note-
Rotifers also produce parthenogenetically, in which males are not present most of the time. The female reproductive system possess one or more ovaries that supplies egg and yolk and have a presence of vitellarium gland.