Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Porifera
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General Information
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Porifera
Size range –
1 cm
to
2 meters in diameter
Body Structure
a. Ostia – pores – many, water IN
b. Oscula – large opening(s), one or few, water OUT
c. Choanocytes – collar cells; have flagella; feeding
d. Amoebocytes – transport food to layer cells not on
the surface
e. Spicules – “skeleton”; hard splinter-like; made of
calcium or silica
f. Spongin – flexible protein
Level of organization
a. Cellular
b. Eukaryotic
c. No tissues
Symmetry – some asymetrical, some radial
Habitat – aquatic, mostly marine, some fresh water
Feeding
a. Heterotrophic
b. Filter feeders
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c. Intracellular digestion (within the cell)
d. No digestive tract
e. Water & food in ostia
f. Choanocytes trap food
g. Amoebocytes carry food to inner layer of cells
h. Water out osculum
7. Respiration - via diffusion
8. Internal transport - via diffusion
9. Excretion - via diffusion
10. Response (Nervous system?) - NONE
11. Locomotion / movement/motility
a. Larvae – free-swimming, use cilia
b. Adults Sessile – no mvmt.
12. Reproduction
a. Asexual –
i.
Regeneration via budding
ii.
Gemmules formed in stress
conditions
b. Sexual
i.
Most monoecious =
o both sexes in same organism
o egg & sperm produced
o cross fertilization
o egg + sperm => free-swimming larvae
ii.
Some dioecious =
o Separate sexes
o Egg OR sperm produced
13. Ecological Roles
a. Habitat for other aquatic animals
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c.
d.
Food for some
Domestic use:
bathing, cleaning, home improvement, other
Medical research –
Sponges don’t get cancer
How do they do that? Can we use it?
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