SPONGE DISSECTION
The sponge is a very simple organism, with a very simple body plan. It has an assymetrical body, with pores all along it that brings in water with all the nutrients it needs. It has a really simple digestive system- one body cavity for the food to go inside and the waste to come out. This body cavity is also where water comes in and brings all the nutrients and air for the sponge. The water circulates, and gives the sponge air to "breathe". It has no support system, but it is a very successful animal.
Ecology of Sponges; phylum Porifera: Sponges are very important to sea life because they provide homes for other small animals that live in the water~ such as snails, sea stars, and shrimp. They also provide homes for tiny protists, which in return give the sponge food and other nutrients for the sponge to survive.
Subgroups of Porifera: There are three types of sponges, the glass sponge (Class: Hexactinellida), the calcareous sponge (Calcarea), and the demosponges.
The sponge is a very simple organism, with a very simple body plan. It has an assymetrical body, with pores all along it that brings in water with all the nutrients it needs. It has a really simple digestive system- one body cavity for the food to go inside and the waste to come out. This body cavity is also where water comes in and brings all the nutrients and air for the sponge. The water circulates, and gives the sponge air to "breathe". It has no support system, but it is a very successful animal.
Ecology of Sponges; phylum Porifera: Sponges are very important to sea life because they provide homes for other small animals that live in the water~ such as snails, sea stars, and shrimp. They also provide homes for tiny protists, which in return give the sponge food and other nutrients for the sponge to survive.
Subgroups of Porifera: There are three types of sponges, the glass sponge (Class: Hexactinellida), the calcareous sponge (Calcarea), and the demosponges.