Sponges



=Basic Sponge Characteristics = **﻿Sponges belong to the phylum Porifera, and although they may not look like it, they are primitive animal organisms. Sponges are multicellular, and have specialized cells which allow them to perform basic functions, which help them live in their stationary home. They are asymmetrical, heterotrophic, and house no cell walls. They also come in various colors, sizes, and shapes and frequently form part of Coral Reefs.**

= Structure **﻿There are four main cells of which the sponge is comprised of. They include //Choanocytes // ﻿(Collar cells), which line the sponge's inside, and use // Flagellum ﻿ ﻿﻿ //for water transport. Also, ﻿//Porocytes,// ﻿﻿which as the name indicates, makes up the sponge's pores that cover it's exterior. In addition, there are ﻿//Epidermal Cells,// ﻿which form the outside "skin" of the sponge. Lastly, there are //Amoebocytes //, which are the cells that specialize in performing executive functions such as the passage of nutrients throughout the sponge. Amoebocytes are found in an area called the //Mesohyl //. This area acts as a connective tissue between the other sponge cells. Other sponges have structures called //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Spicules //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">. These structures have a spiky appearance, shape a sponge's skeleton, and are composed of calcium carbonate or glasslike silica. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Archaeocytes // <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">are the cells which form spicules. Overall, sponges do not have muscles, internal organs, a nervous sytem, or a circulatory system. Water is used to regulate these features. ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ ** **-** **<span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿ ** <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Life Cycle  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sponges life cycles are very basic. From the second they emerge, they are considered //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Larvae //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">. As larvae, they swim and roam about freely until finally finding a rock to anchor to. Sponges are sessile animals, meaning that they are stationary, and will stay on that rock for the rest of their lives. The average lifespan of a sponge can range anywhere from 20-200 years, even though some have been recorded to be about 5,000 years old; indicating that they are truely primitive species of animals. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-  <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Reproduction  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The majority of sponges are hermaphrodites. This means that they carry both female and male sexual characteristics. Sponges reproduce through both asexual and sexual reproduction, in two ways. Through "Budding", (asexual reproduction), any parent can release cells that become mature and develop individually. Through "Smoking", (sexual reproduction), the male releases thousands of sperm which take the shape of a foggy cloud, hence the term "smoking." Once in the cloud, one will eventually make it's way to the female and fertilize the egg, which will soon become a zygote and then a larva. [Sperm enters another sponge through its pores.] //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Internal Fertilization //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">is the process by which an egg is fertilized by the sperm, in the female sponge. In other cases, //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Gemmules //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(group of archaeocytes) are released and endure intense conditions and then develop when the surroundings become balanced out. - <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Examples of Sponge Species __<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sponges are asymmetrical animals. Some species include: __ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #e94ee9; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Vase Sponge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(//Ircinia campana//) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #b1a35d; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Yellow Sponge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(//Cleona celata//)  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Red Tree Sponge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(//Haliclona compressa//)  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff8200; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Elephant Ear Sponge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(//Agelas clathrodes//)  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5c3819; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Brown Tube Sponge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(//Agelas conifera//)  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Stove Pipe Sponge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(//Aplysina archeri//)  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-  <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Location  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">﻿The Vase Sponge is widely found in the Caribbean Sea, and parts of the Floridian Coast. The Yellow Sponge is widely spread out in the Pacific Ocean, especially on U.S. coasts. This sponge is also found encrusted onto Coral Reefs (as shown in the image above). The Red Tree Sponge is spread out on Caribbean waters, and the Elephant Ear Sponge is found in the Floridian Keys. The Brown Tube Sponge is found in Floridian coasts, The Bahamas, and in parts of The Caribbean. Lastly, the Stove Pipe Sponge is found in Tropical West Atlantic waters. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-  <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Feeding  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sponges digest their food intracellularly. Through this method, digestion occurs inside of their cells. Sponges are also "filter feeders." This means that they consume any microscopic debris near them. These microcospic particles travel in the water and pass through the sponge using it's archaeocytes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Use of Sponges  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sponges are very essential organisms. They provide homes for many forms of marine life including, snails, shrimp, and sea cucumbers. They also host symbiotic mutualistic relationships with these animals. These organisms provide oxygen and food for the sponge while, the sponge hosts a home for them in return. Sometimes, they have a green coloring due to the organisms that reside inside of them. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Types of Sponges  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">There is a wide variety of Calcareous sponges. They include: Asconoid; which has an indefinite shape. Syconoid; which has a tube shape, and Leuconoid; whose chambers have flagellum. Among other types of sponges are, Glass sponges. These type of sponges are different in that they elude electric impulses, and are found at great depths. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">  <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-  <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Vocabulary  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Choanocytes //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - are specialized cells that use flagella to move a steady current of water through the sponge  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Flagellum //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - whip-like structure on some cells that is used for movement  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Osculum //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - a large hole at the top of the sponge  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Porocytes //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - cells that make up a sponge's pores  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Epidermal Cells //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- cells that compose the outside skin of the sponge  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Amoebocytes //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - carry out executive functions such as the flow of nutrients in the sponge  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Mesohyl //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - connective tissue between other sponge cells  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Spicules //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - spike-shaped structure that makes up the skeletons of harder sponges; made of either chalklike calcium carbonate or glasslike silica  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Archaeocytes //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - specialized cell in a sponge that makes spicules  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Larva(e) //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - immature stage of an organism that looks different from the adult form  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Internal Fertilization //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - process in which eggs are fertilized inside of the female's body  //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #800080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Gemmule //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> - group of archaeocytes surrounded by a tough layer of spicules; produced by some sponges  <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿  <span style="background-color: #84e84f; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">﻿  =