Learn: Porifera

What are the characteristics of the phylum Porifera>

Sponges lack tissues

contain different cell types

Have no organs

produce gametes

devolp via embryo

metazoans

How do sponges maintain their shape?

Sponges have a skeleton of internal spicules (calcium, silicon and or protein called spongin)

What do spicules ogten do?

Interlock

How do sponges feed?

Feed by filtering minute particles from the water (filter feeders) so they have to be aqautic

What happens when sponges get larger?

Complex folding of the body walls which forms flagellated chambers

What are some challenges with how sponges feed?

Choanocytes are tiny so the same water may be sampled multiple times resulting in egg and sperm being cannibalized

How do sponges overcome challenges in how they feed?

Many choanocytes, high surface area (folding) and sponges make use of water currents to bring in food particles and take away gametes and filtered water

What form of reproduction occurs in sponges?

Asexual reproduction by buddying or fragmentation or sexual (gametes) marine forsm produce minute planktonic larvae

What do sponges not have?

muscles (they are sessile)

Teeth or a gut (cant feed on large particles)

nervous system (they cant react only at cellular level)

respiratory or circulatory system (CO2 AND O2 enter and exit via diffusion)

Why/How are sponges successful?

They are effcient filter feeders

occur all over the world

formed massive reefs in permian seas

dominate deep water ecosystems

Protect themselves using a combination of sharp structural spicules and toxic chemical defenses

What are some traits of carnivorous sponges?

Mostly deep sea forms

habe minute, sticky filamentous extension that entangle tiny animals

Pass digested food to amoebocytes

Where have sponges likely arose from?

Choanoflagellate by cell aggregation and cooperation and embryogenesis