1. Or-The Wonderful World of Sponges
Phylum Porifera
Or-The Wonderful World of Sponges

2. Sponge Structure The bodies of many sponges are only 2 layers thick
Their bodies are covered in many small pores (holes) that let water in
Some sponges have spikes between the inner and outer layer of cells. These spikes form a rigid frame that helps support the sponges body. It also helps keep away hungry fish!
Water leaves the sponge through a large hole at the top called the osculum.
The skeleton of sponges is what we use for cleaning!

3. A little sponge humor…

4. Sponge Reproduction
Sexual reproduction-A sponge can be male for a part of the year and female for another part of the year. The male sponges release sperm into the water which fertilizes the eggs of female sponges. After the eggs are fertilized, a larvae forms. The larvae swims to a new place and attaches to a surface and becomes a sessile (sessile=doesn’t move) sponge. The new sponge is not identical to either parent sponge.
Asexual reproduction-Budding is when a new sponge grows off the body of the original sponge. The bud eventually breaks off and becomes a new sponge. The new sponge is genetically identical to the original.

5. Sponge Reproduction Cont…
Click here for a short video clip...

6. Sponge Snacking Sponges feed by straining food from the water
They eat bacteria and small protists
Special cells inside the body of the sponge called collar cells trap the food particles as they pass through. Collar cells have tail-like structures the beat back and forth to move water through the sponge.

7. Sponge Pics