Porifera: sponges

What phylum do sponges belong to?

Porifera

What does the name Porifera mean?

Pore-bearing

Why are sponges classified as invertebrates?

They lack a backbone

Why are sponges considered to be filter feeders?

They filter food particles from water

Why are sponges considered to be simple organisms?

They lack tissues and organs

Sponges are sessile

They are immobile

What are sponges feeding on?

Microorganisms and detritus

What is ostia? What does it do?

Pores that allow water to enter the sponge

What is osculum? What does it do?

Large opening that expels water from the sponge

Describe the direction of the flow of water through the sponge?

From ostia to osculum

What is the job of choanocytes (collar cells) and how do they work?

They generate a water current and trap food particles

What are spicules? How do they help the sponge?

Structural elements that provide support and deter predators

What are porocytes and how do they help the sponge?

Pore Cells that regulate water flow into the sponge

Are sponges animals or plants? Explain?

Animals, as they are multicellular and heterotrophic

How do sponges reproduce asexually?

Through budding or fragmentation

How do sponges reproduce sexually?

By releasing sperm and eggs into the water for fertilization

How do sponges play an important role in their ecosystem?

They filter water, recycle nutrients, and provide habitats for other organisms