Porifera Sponges By Laia Alonso Basic Information Kingdom

Porifera (Sponges) By: Laia Alonso

Basic Information � Kingdom: Animalia � Subkingdom: Parazoa � Phylum: Porifera � Phylum porifera is also known as those with pores.

Special Features �- More than 8, 000 known species (900 are fresh water, and the rest are salt water) � - Sponge taxonomists guess there are 15, 000 species in the world. � - Can reproduce sexually or asexually � - They feed through pores on their outer walls � - Lives in water environments

Special Features (II) �- Has a multicellular body, no organs, and few tissues � - No nervous system � - Fossil sponges are one of the oldest known animal fossils � - They are filter feeders, over 100 liters of water a day � - Body is full of pores

When it appeared � Scientists have found, in rocks, traces of the chemical 24 -isoprophylcholestane, which they say has to be found inside sponges around 1, 800 million years ago. � Some fossils found around 580 million years ago have been classified as demosponges. � A type of sponge called Archaeocythids, which were very common and scientists found several of, were found 530 million years ago, but died out 490 million years ago

Life Cycle � Found from the polar to the tropics and in clear and quiet oceans � Reproduce asexually or sexually � In asexual they produce the sperm and the egg. When they connect it attaches to a rock and waits to be formed. � In sexual the male releases the sperm, and when it comes across a female it attaches. Eventually a larva will be released and it can pick a spot to grow on. � Small sponge growing on the base of an adult sponge, and then breaking away. Called budding. � If one is cut or injured, it will also regenerate itself.

Life Cycle (II) � From where it decides to stay, it will start do develop itself � Development can change depending on the environment � In average, they live around 20 years � Using asexual reproduction, can live up to 200 years � When dead, they usually disintegrate

Feeding � Absorbs water through his pores. � This water provides it with food and oxygen. � The water is moved through the sponge because of the currents. � The food that the sponge takes is with this is then used. It flows through the pores. � They capture 90% of the bacteria

Respiration � Respiration is unique. � It absorbs the oxygen, these diffuse, and get oxygen from the flowing water system. � In this system, many soluble waste products also use diffusion. � Depending on the type, archeocytes remove mineral particles and take them out into the water currents or either incorporate them into their skeletons.

Bibliography � http: //sites. google. com/site/animalbiologyspring 2010/ porifera/life-cycle � http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sponge � http: //animaldiversity. ummz. umich. edu/site/accounts/ information/Porifera. html � http: //www. biology. iastate. edu/Courses/211 L/Porif/% 20 Porifindx. htm � http: //tolweb. org/Porifera/2464 � http: //www. infusion. allconet. org/webquest/Phylum. Po rifera. html � http: //www. earthlife. net/inverts/porifera. html