![]() ![]() Purpose: To compare and contrast sponge structures in order to further our understanding of phylum Porifera. Sponges also have spicules between cells, which give support, and spongin, which is a porous material that provides structure to the sponge. Water is absolutely necessary for sponge survival, as it is used for filter feeding, excretion, and respiration. They can also reproduce sexually, where choanocytes become sperm, and amebocytes become eggs, which are then released into the water as a cloud of eggs and sperm. They reproduce asexually through budding of their gemmules, which then break off to create an identical offspring. Sponges reproduce sexually and asexually. ![]() Food is then transported to other parts of the sponge by amebocytes. This current is caused by the flagella on the choanocytes moving up and down. Sponges get their nutrition from filter feeding, where water is pulled into the sponge through the ostrum, and out of the osculum, and small cells called choanocytes catch small food particles drifting through. These organisms have changed very little since they first evolved. This phylum is by far the most primitive, as it is a collection of specialized cells, not tissue. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |