How do tunicates eliminate nitrogenous wastes from their bodies?

Tunicates eliminate nitrogen waste through filter-feeding. They feed by straining water through a mucus net they secrete, and food is trapped as the net passes through the mouth. This mucus net is very effective at trapping small particles in water, including phytoplankton, bacteria, and organic matter. Some tunicates can even filter out viruses from the water!

As food particles become trapped in the mucus net, they are transported into the digestive tract. Nitrogen waste, such as ammonia and urea, is produced when these particles are digested. This nitrogen waste is then released from the tunicate's body through its excurrent siphon, which is a small opening in the body that allows water to exit.

The removal of nitrogen waste is important to tunicates because it helps prevent a buildup of toxic substances in their bodies. In addition, the mucus net also helps remove other waste products, such as carbon dioxide, from the water, which helps maintain a healthy environment for the tunicate.