PORIFERA

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  • Porifera are the Simplest most ancient animals.
  • Porifera means, “pore bearers”.
  • Porifera are Multicellular organisms
  • Porifera Contain pores (holes) to get food.
  • Porifera Sessile organisms (don’t move).
  • Porifera Lack true tissues and organs.
  • Porifera are filter-feeders.
  • Porifera's Body is asymmetrical & sac-like.
  • Porifera Exhibit morphological plasticity
  • Morphological plasticity means that the brain can change the way it processes information.
  • exhibiting morphological plasticity means that the organism can change its morphology to suit its environment
  • Porocytes
    ✓ Are specialized cells found in the sponge's outer layer.
    ✓ They form small openings called ostia, which allow water to enter the sponge's body.
  • Choanocytes (collar cells)
    ✓ Are specialized cells that line the internal chambers of the sponge.
    ✓ They have flagella surrounded by a collar-like structure.
    ✓ Create water currents, drawing water into the sponge and trapping food particles for ingestion.
  • Mesohyl
    ✓ A gelatinous matrix that fills the space between the outer and inner layers of the sponge.
    ✓ It contains various types of cells, including amoeboid cells (amoebocytes), which perform several functions such as digestion, nutrient distribution, and reproduction.
  • Spicules
    ✓ Are small, needle-like structures made of calcium carbonate, silica, or spongin (a protein).
    ✓ They provide structural support and protection to the sponge's body, helping maintain its shape and integrity.
  • Spongocoel
    ✓ The central cavity within the sponge's body.
    ✓ It acts as a reservoir for water that enters through the ostia, allowing for efficient water circulation and filtration.
  • Osculum
    ✓ A large opening at the top of the sponge through which water exits after filtration.
    ✓ It helps expel waste products and excess water, maintaining the internal environment of the sponge.
  • Pinacocytes
    ✓ Are flat cells that form the outermost layer (pinacoderm) of the sponge's body.
    ✓ They provide protection and regulate water flow by contracting and relaxing, controlling the size of the ostia.
  • Amoebocytes
    ✓ Found within the gel-like matrix (mesohyl) of sponges.
    ✓ Perform various functions such as digestion, distribution of nutrients, production of skeletal elements, and participation in reproduction.
  • Gemmules
    ✓ Are typically small, rounded structures composed of a cluster of archaeocytes (undifferentiated cells) surrounded by a tough, protective layer called a scleroprotein membrane.
    ✓ Formed during periods of environmental stress, such as drought or temperature fluctuations.
  • Pores and Canals
    ✓ Facilitate water circulation throughout the sponge's body
    ✓ They allow for the intake of oxygen and nutrients, as well as the removal of waste products, contributing to the sponge's metabolic processes and overall health.
  • 1/3 TYPES OF CANAL SYSTEM
    Asconoid
    Simplest type.
    ✓ Water enters through numerous tiny pores called ostia into a central cavity called the spongocoel.
    ✓ Water flows out through a single large opening called the osculum.
    ✓ Found in small and tubeshaped sponges.
  • 2/3 TYPES OF CANAL SYSTEM
    Syconoid
    Intermediate complexity.
    ✓ Water enters through ostia into small chambers called radial canals.
    ✓ From radial canals, water flows into the central spongocoel through small openings called prosopyle.
    ✓ Water flows out through osculum.
    ✓ Found in sponges with a more complex body structure than asconoid sponges.
  • 3/3 TYPES OF CANAL SYSTEM
    Leuconoid
    ✓ Most complex type.
    Water enters through ostia into numerous small chambers called flagellated chambers or choanocyte chambers.
    Choanocytes (collar cells) within these chambers create water currents and filter out food particles.
    ✓ Water flows out through larger openings called excurrent canals.
    ✓ Found in larger and more advanced sponges, including many demosponges
  • Sexual Reproduction of Porifera (External Fertilization)
  • 1/2 Asexual Reproduction of Porifera (Budding)
  • 2/2 Asexual Reproduction of Porifera (Fragmentation/Fission)
  • Home for Marine Life: Sponges provide homes for many sea creatures, offering them shelter and protection from predators.
  • Boost Biodiversity: They help create diverse communities of tiny organisms, making marine life more varied and resilient.
  • Clean Water: Sponges act like natural filters, cleaning up the water by consuming tiny particles like bacteria and algae.
  • Recycle Nutrients: They eat up organic matter and release nutrients back into the water, helping marine ecosystems stay healthy.
  • Medicine Potential: Sponges produce chemicals that scientists can use to make medicines, like antibiotics or treatments for diseases.
  • Support Coral Reefs: They play a part in balancing coral reef ecosystems, helping to keep them thriving and healthy.