introduction to sponges
DESCRIPTION
Introduction to Sponges. Porifera. Porifera “Pore-bearing” Over 4,000 species Mostly marine. Classification. Kingdom Animalia Plant-like in appearance Lack some typical animal characteristics Distinct tissues Dead end phylum Nothing evolved from the Porifera. Classification. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Introduction to Sponges
Porifera
• Porifera– “Pore-bearing”– Over 4,000 species– Mostly marine
Classification
• Kingdom Animalia– Plant-like in appearance– Lack some typical animal
characteristics• Distinct tissues• Dead end phylum–Nothing evolved from the Porifera
Classification
• Organized into three classes– Based on skeleton structure differences
• Calcareous sponges• Glass sponges• Encrusting sponges
Calcareous Sponges
• Classification– Class Calcarea
• Size– Small, 4 inches or smaller
• Location– Shallow waters
Calcareous Sponges
• Structure– Skeletons made of spicules • “little spikes”• Made of calcium carbonate
(lime)
Calcareous Sponges
• Two types– Leucosolenia• Simple (asconoid)
canal system
– Scypha• Advanced (syconoid) canal system
Canal System Function
• Simple canal system– Water enters internal cavity (spongoceol) through
pore cells in the body wall• Pore cell openings – incurrent openings (ostia)• Cells of the spongoceol absorb nutrients and
oxygen– Water exits through excurrent opening (osculum)
• Advanced canal system– Folded body walls• Increases surface area–Greater absorption of nutrients and oxygen
Glass Sponges
• Classification– Class Hexactinellida
• Size– Larger, vase-shaped
• Location– Deep, tropical waters
• Structure– Skeleton made of crystalline silicon dioxide• Geometric pattern• Formed by six-pointed spicules
• Possesses advanced canal system
Encrusting Sponges
• Classification– Demospongiae (Demo – “people”)• Used as bath sponges
• Size– Large
• Location– Gulf of Mexico,
Caribbean,Mediterranean Sea
Encrusting Sponges
• Structure– Skeleton can be made of:• Elastic (spongin) fibers–Makes them “spongy”
• Silicon dioxide• Combination of both
– Possess a complex (leuconoid) canal system• Commercial use– Collected by divers• Allowed to die/decompose in water–Spongy skeleton remains and is cleaned to
be sold