1. Porifera common name: Sponges
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Porifera
The organisms in the phylum Porifera can be further divided into four ‘classes’
Calcerous sponges
Horn sponges
Tropical reef sponges
Glass sponges

2. Below are several examples.
Phylum Porifera
There are more than 900 (mostly marine) species in this phylum.
Below are several examples.
Yellow sponge
Vase sponge
Tube sponge

3. Barrel Sponge Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Porifera Class: Demospongiae
Giant barrel sponges can grow large enough to fit a person inside!
Barrel Sponge
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Porifera
Class:
Demospongiae
Order:
Haplosclerida
Family:
Petrosiidae
Genus:
Xestospongia
Species:
X. testudinari

4. Body Plan/Key Characteristics of Sponges
multicellular with few specialized cells
no mouths, tissues, or organ systems
asymmetrical- no front/back or left/right sides
often have a wall around a large central cavity
simple skeleton:
In harder sponges the skeleton is made of spiny spicules
In softer sponges the skeleton is made of spongin, a network of flexible protein fibers. These are the sponges that are harvested and used as natural bath sponges.

5. 7 Essential Functions

6. Feeding
Sponges are filter feeders, sifting microscopic food particles from the water.
Fundamental question: How do choanocytes help sponges feed?
Choanocytes are specialized cells that use their flagella to move a steady current of water (and food!) through the sponge.

7. Respiration, Circulation, Excretion
As water moves through the body cavity, oxygen dissolved in the water diffuses into the cells of the sponge. At the same time, waste such as carbon dioxide and ammonia diffuse into the water and are carried away.

8. Response (nervous system)
Sponges do not have a nervous system.
Many sponges protect themselves by producing toxins that make them poisonous to potential predators.

9. Reproduction
Sexual reproduction Most sponges are hermaphrodites: a single sponge will produce both egg and sperm, but at different times. Asexual reproduction Some sponges can reproduce by a process called budding.

10. Only able to move during the larva stage
Movement
Sessile as adults
Only able to move during the larva stage

11. Ecology
SPONGES…
provide habitat for marine animals - snails, sea stars and shrimp
are a food source for many organisms such as sea stars, turtles and fishes.
provide a protected place for bacteria, algae and plantlike protists to grow. These photosynthetic organisms provide food and oxygen to the sponge.

12. Endangered species: Cloud Sponge
- They are extremely fragile… bodies are composed of silica (glass) - Bottom trawling (dragging nets along sea floor to catch bottom fish) breaks their bodies – threatening the survival of the population

13. Resources
Miller, Kenneth and Levine, Joseph. Biology. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2004.
"Marine Mysteries - Could Solving These Mysteries Save The Oceans?" Marine Mysteries. World Wildlife Federation, n.d. Web. 11 June 2012.
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"Treasures of the Sea Exhibit." Treasures of the Sea. Delaware Technical Community College, n.d. Web. 11 June <