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.