Sampling date 10/2017. Scale bars indicate 100 µm (1), 50 µm (2), 25 µm (3).

Three images.
The colonies of Volvox are not just agglomerations of cells that are mechanically united, but contain differently specialized cells. For example, the cell colony is differentiated into front and back. The cells at the front end have a larger eye spot; this part is also directed forward when the whole colony moves. At the opposite end of the colony, the daughter colonies or sex cells are formed.

The vegetative cells of the mother colony perish after reproduction (sexually and asexually). Thus, in flagellates, the phenomenon occurs that certain cells of a colony are excluded from reproduction from the outset (creation of a “corpse” during reproduction).

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Place name: Pond Domänental near Kronshagen (Kiel, Germany) 
Latitude: 54.33211     Longitude: 10.060821

Microscope Zeiss Axioplan, camera Olympus OM-D-E-M5 MKII. DOF images.