Kingdom Animalia

Eukaryotic (Domain Eukarya) All Multi-cellular (unlike Protists) All Heterotrophic (unlike Plants) No cell walls (unlike Fungi and Plants) Sexual reproduction Cells are organized into structurally-functional tissues

Marine Animals Without A Backbone There are two major groups of animals: the vertebrates, which have a backbone, and the invertebrates, those without a backbone Of all the species of animals, ~97% are invertebrates!

Marine Animals Without A Backbone All major groups of invertebrates have marine representatives, and many are exclusively marine Other than insects – one of the few invertebrate groups to invade land – most animals are marine! – ~8/10 th s of all organisms are Arthropods!

if Facebook existed years ago…

Phylum Porifera Sponges are the simplest of all animals; best described as aggregations of specialized cells Sponges do not have true tissues or organs; cells are largely independent of one another All are sessile (non-mobile) Porifera means “pore bearer” NO body symmetry

Phylum Porifera Tiny pores, or ostia allow water to enter and circulate through a series of canals where plankton and other organic debris are filtered out and eaten Sponges are suspension feeders, animals that eat food particles suspended in the water column Filter feeders; they actively filter out food particles

Phylum Porifera Water is pumped into a feeding chamber lined with collar cells, or choanocytes Choanocytes have a flagella that generates a current, and a thin collar that traps food particles Food is then ingested within the cell

Phylum Porifera As sponges get larger, they need structural support Most have spicules, supporting structures of different shapes and sizes, made of silica or calcium carbonate Many also have a ‘skeleton’ of tough, elastic fibers made of a protein called spongin

Phylum Porifera Wandering cells, or amebocytes secrete the spicules and spongin Amebocytes also transport and store excess food particles, and can change into other cell types, quickly ‘repairing’ any damage to the sponge ~80% of food particles are engulfed and ingested by choanocytes; smaller particles, inc. bacteria and dinoflagellates are eaten by amebocytes

Sponges are filter-feeders

You are what you eat… The silica frustules of diatoms and other phytoplankton help make the glass spicules of sponges! Diatoms Sponge

Sponges are boring! A family of sponges known as boring sponges bore into shells by use of an enzyme produced by the amebocytes Sponge larvae settle onto wood and/or shells and create burrows where they will grow

Sponge worthy? Unlike most animals, many sponges reproduce asexually Branches or buds break off to form separate, but identical, sponges Like all animals, however, sponges also reproduce sexually – Specialized coanocytes or amebocytes produce eggs and sperm – Sponge larvae is planktonic!

Phylum Cnidaria Cnidarians (phylum Cnidaria) are multi- cellular animals with tissues that perform specific functions Cnidarians include the sea anemones, jellyfish, coral, and their relatives Cnidarians have radial symmetry; in fact radial symmetry evolved in the Cnidarians!

Cnidarians are rad! Animals with radial symmetry look the same from all sides and have no head, front or back Instead have an oral surface (where mouth is) and aboral surface

Phylum Cnidaria Cnidarians have a centrally-located mouth surrounded by tentacles, slender, finger-like projections used to capture and handle food All possess stinging cells, or nematocysts Nematocysts employ neurotoxins which paralyze prey; 7-17 different types The mouth opens up to a gut, with only one opening

Nematocysts ivQo&feature=related

Phylum Cnidaria Cnidarians occur in two basic forms: a polyp, a sac-like attached form with its mouth and tentacles pointed upward, and a bell-like medusa, which resembles an upside-down polyp adapted to swimming Some Cnidarians have both polyp and medusa stages; others spend their entire lives as either a polyp or a medusa

Phylum Cnidaria, Class Hydrozoa The Hydrozoans are a class of very small, predatory Cnidarians which can be solitary or colonial in form

Class Hydrozoa, Order Siphonophora Within class Hydrozoa, lies the Order Siphonophora, the Siphonphores – Siphonophores consist of colonies of medusa-like and polyp-like individuals, each specialized for a specific function – Specialized features include a gas-filled float, tentacles lined with nematocysts, and digestive cells – Very toxic!

Portuguese Man o’ War: a siphonophore

By-the-wind Sailors: a siphonophore

Physophora: my nemesis! Actual size

Phylum Cnidaria, Class Scyphozoa The Scyphozoans (class Scyphozoa) include most of the common medusa-like ‘jellyfish’ Larger than Hydrozoans Short polyp stage; Long medusa-stage NOAA

Phylum Cnidaria, Class Scyphozoa Scyphozoan polyps are very small and release juvenile medusa Adult medusa have a rounded body, or bell Scyphozoans swim with rhythmic contractions of their bell, but their swimming ability is limited – Planktonic! – Painful stings to swimmers

Phylum Cnidaria, Class Anthozoa The Anthozoans (class Anthozoa) include the corals, sea anemones, and sea fans Anthozoans lack a medusa stage and exist as solitary or colonial polyps Many corals excrete a skeleton of calcium carbonate, which forms reefs (‘reef-building corals’); very important for marine ecosystem Anthozoans can sting and ‘attack’ each other!

Class Anthozoa

Phylum Ctenophora The comb jellies, or ctenophores are exclusively-marine NO nematocysts (not Cnidarians); instead of stinging cells, ctenophores possess sticky cells, or colloblasts 8 rows of cilia; Ctenophore literally means “comb bearer” ‘Boom and bust’ population dynamics

Phylum Ctenophora Most species are bioluminescent Voracious feeders on copepods, fish eggs, crab larvae, shrimp larvae and other meroplankton Self-fertilizing hermaphrodites Can double in size in 1 day! Important secondary consumers in Long Island estuaries

Peanut butter and jellyfish anyone? Ctenophores are increasing in LI estuaries During peak ctenophore abundance in Great South Bay (in 2006), one 2- minute plankton tow yielded over 3,700 individuals (543.1 individuals m -3 )!

Ctenophores vs. Zooplankton 2009

Ctenophores on Long Island Spring: Sea gooseberrySummer: Sea walnutFall: Beroe ovata

Understanding my ctenophore research through Pac Man…

Bivalve larvae (ctenophore food) Phytoplankton (clam food)

Ctenophore

Lots of ctenophores!!!

GAME OVER (for the hard clam)