Phylum Porifera: Sponges Characteristics

Sponges

• The internal skeleton in many sponges provides structural support and protection.

Habitat and Lifestyle

• Sponges primarily inhabit marine environments, from shallow tide pools to deep-sea habitats.
• Sponges are sessile, meaning they are attached to one place, and are often found in coral reefs, rocky shores, and muddy or sandy bottoms.

Structural Characteristics

• Sponges have a unique characteristic structure that allows water to circulate through them, with tiny pores (ostia) allowing water to enter and a central cavity (spongocoel) that funnels water out through the osculum.
• Sponges are diploblastic, meaning they have two primary layers of cells: the outer ectoderm and the inner endoderm.

Feeding and Respiration

• Sponges obtain food, oxygen, and remove waste through the process of filter feeding, where water is drawn in through the ostia and out through the osculum, trapping nutrients and oxygen.

Food Source and Symbiotic Relationships

• Most species of sponges feed on small particles, such as bacteria, algae, and detritus.
• Some sponges provide a habitat for photosynthesizing microorganisms, which produce nutrients that benefit the sponge.
• These microorganisms receive protection and a nutrient-rich environment in return.

Body Symmetry and Characteristics

• Sponges exhibit radial symmetry, meaning their body is organized around a central axis.
• Sponges lack a true digestive system, nervous system, and Circulatory system.

Spongin and Spicules

• The primary function of spongin and spicules is to provide structural support and protection to the sponge.

Key Facts

• Sponges are multicellular, but they lack true tissues and organs.
• Sponges are able to regenerate lost or damaged parts.
• Sponges play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, providing habitat and food for many other organisms.