1. Sponges Phylum Porifera

2. Sponge Ecology • Found from intertidal zone to depths of 6000 meters • World-wide distribution from polar seas to tropical waters

3. Over 5000 species of sponges exist in ocean environment • 150 species are adapted to freshwater environments

4. SPONGE FACTS... • Phylum Porifera • Pore bearer (latin) • Primative • Sessile • Mostly Marine • Filter Feeders that pump water throughout body extracting nutrients

5. Porifera = "Pore Bearer"

6. FILTER FEEDER

8. 3 Classes of Sponges • Calcarea • (bony sponges) • Hexactenellida • (Glass sponges) • Demospongiae • (spongin sponges) • Most common type

9. Anatomy of a Sponge • Simplest animal • No true tissues • Lack muscles, nerves and internal organs

12. Spicules • Stiffened rods or spikes made of calcium carbonate or silica • Used for structure and defense • Many fish cannot digest the spicules, so sponges are not in their diet.

15. Research concerning the spicules of the Venus’ Flower Basket Sponge promises to yield new technology with Fiber Optics

16. Tube Sponge

18. Elephant Ear Sponge Vase Sponge

19. Barrel Sponge

21. Spawning Barrel Sponge - Budding

22. Sponge Development