phylum porifera: the sponges

Question 1

what does porifera mean?

Answer 1

animal with pores

Question 2

are sponges animals or plants?

Answer 2

animals

Question 3

where do sponges live?

Answer 3

most live in salt water, but a few species live in fresh water

Question 4

what are the three major classes of poriferans

Answer 4

calcarea, hexactinellida, and demospongiae

Question 5

what types of sponges are in the class calcarea?

Answer 5

sponges containing calcium carbonate (chalk) spicules

Question 6

what types of sponges are in the class hexctinellida?

Answer 6

sponges containing silica (glass) spicules

Question 7

what types of sponges are in the class demospongiae?

Answer 7

sponges containing silica (glass) spicules and spongin

Question 8

what is their body plan?

Answer 8

radial and sometimes bilateral

Question 9

what is the ostium opening?

Answer 9

small pore in the side of the sponge where water flows into the sponge

Question 10

what is the osculum opening?

Answer 10

large opening at the top of the sponge where water flows out of the sponge

Question 11

what is the spongocoel?

Answer 11

central cavity surrounded by walls with thousands of pores

Question 12

what type level of organization are sponges?

Answer 12

cellular

Question 13

what do they not have?

Answer 13

no true tissues, organs, muscles, nerves, mouth, or digestive cavity

Question 14

what are the two cell layers?

Answer 14

ectoderm, endotherm

Question 15

what is mesoglea?

Answer 15

jelly-like layer in between the ectoderm and endoderm (it is not a cell layer)

Question 16

what are the four types of specialized cells?

Answer 16

epidermal, collar, pore, and amoeba cells

Question 17

what are the skeletons of some sponges made of?

Answer 17

spicules

Question 18

what are spicules made out of?

Answer 18

calcite (chalk) and silica (glass)

Question 19

what type of feeders are sponges?

Answer 19

filter feeders, they primarily eat plankton

Question 20

particles of food in the water are trapped by what?

Answer 20

microvilli

Question 21

describe the respiration process

Answer 21

the water current flowing through the sponge delivers oxygen to the sponge cells. the cells take up the oxygen and release carbon dioxide through simple diffusion

Question 22

how do sponges protect themselves?

Answer 22

producing toxins, as it makes them poisonous to potential predators

Question 23

describe the asexual reproduction process

Answer 23

budding - new sponge grows on parent then falls off to create a new animal

Question 24

describe the sexual reproduction process

Answer 24

eggs and sperm (gametes) are released into the water.

Question 25

what does hermaphroditic mean?

Answer 25

one individual possesses both eggs and sperm

Question 26

do sponges move?

Answer 26

no

Question 27

state an ecological role of sponges

Answer 27

they provide food, homes, and shelter for other organisms