Lesson 3.4 REPRODUCTION AND ECOLOGY

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Asexual (budding, fragmentation, gemmules) AND Sexual (hermaphroditism, free-swimming larvae)

What are the two reproductive strategies of sponges?

Rapid population growth, resilience to disturbances, survival during harsh conditions

Asexual reproduction - What are the advantages?

Genetic diversity, dispersal to new environments

Sexual reproduction - What are the advantages?

Most sponges are hermaphroditic (produce both eggs and sperm)

Sexual reproduction - Are sponges male, female, or hermaphroditic?

Filter large volumes of water removing particles, provide habitats for organisms, symbiotic relationships with algae/bacteria, stabilize sediments, participate in bioerosion, improve water quality

What is the ecological role of sponges?

Filter feeders - capture microscopic particles and plankton from water

How do sponges feed?

One of simplest multicellular animals, bridge between unicellular and complex multicellular organisms, show early cell specialization, share genes with advanced animals

What is the evolutionary significance of Phylum Porifera