PHYLUM- PORIFERA

(THE SPONGES)

FROM:-WIKI EDCN. SERVICES

BY- DR. J R DASH, BBSR, INDIA.
 INTRODUCTION
Phylum Porifera – The Pore Bearers – The Sponges
Sponges are Metazoan Animals having No cell walls & are
sperm producing.
Sponges lack body tissues, organs & have no body symmetry.
Sponges are sessile aquatic animals with internal skeletons
of Spongin fibres /spicules made of Ca Co3/Silicon O2
Both Marine(majority)/ Fresh water Sponges exist
They can be AutoTrophic, Heterotrophic & also Carnivores.
Sponges reproduce Sexually(most) & some Asexually
(Budding/ Gemmules – survival pods)
5,000-10,000 sps. Of Sponges exist
Seen from Tidal zones upto 5.5 miles depth at sea.
The DemoSponges with their Soft fibrous Exoskeletons are
harvested in a large scale for Human use
Dolphins use Sponges as Tools for Foraging.
Sponges live for few yrs. To 5000 yrs.
Sponges are seen - shallow depth to deep oceans,all regions.
SPONGES WITH PORES
SPONGES WITH PORES
Spongin Fibres of Soft Sponges Ca CO3 /Si O2 Fibres of Hard Sponges
MARINE SPONGES
FRESH WATER SPONGES
DEMOSPONGES HARVESTED FOR HUMAN USE
DOLPHINS FORAGING BY SPONGING
 BASIC STRUCTURES
Sponges are Flask-shaped(Flower- vase type) hollow
structures with Osculum(Chimney-like) opening at the Top &
Dermal Pores(Ostias) at the side &bottom
The body shape given by Mesohyl - Jelly-like structure made
of Collagen fibres lined by inner Choanocyte cells with Flagellum
& outer Pinacocytes cells.
Dermal pores – Ostias are lined by Tube- like Porocytes
acting as inlet valves
Multiplicity of cells in the Mesohyl are:- Lophocytes,
Archeocytes, Collencytes, Rhabdiferous cells, Oocytes,
spermatocytes, spicules( sclerocytes) ,spongocytes, grey cells,
Myocytes etc.
Glass sponges have distinctive silica Syncytium- scaffolding.
Body shape of Sponges are- Asconoid type(1mm size),
Syconoid type(10 cm size), Leuconoid type(1mt.) size.
BASIC STRUCTURE OF SPONGES
BASIC STRUCTURE OF SPONGES
FLAGELLA
LOPHOCYTE
CHOANOCYTE
MESOHYL
OOCYTE
PINACOCYTE
POROCYTE

OSTIA

ARCHEOCYTE

SCLEROCYTE

SPICULE
GLASS SPONGES – SILICA SYNCYTIUM

WATER FLOW

SILICA SYNCYTIUM
SPICULES

CHOANO SYNCYTIUM
 BASIC SHAPES OF SPONGES

ASCONOID SYCONOID LEUCONOID

 PHISIOLOGY & CLASS OF SPONGES
The Waterflow system inside the sponges operate to provide
Nutrition, Oxygen & excrete waste products out of the system
The Dermal pores-ostias take in water from the base & sides,
passing through the channels lined by Choanocytes & flagella
pumping the water current outward through the Osculum
The flexible cell-cell adhesions allow the sponges change
shape as per environmental requirements
Mesohyl acts as the Endoskeleton of Sponges, made of
fibrous spongin, silica /calcium spicules
Exoskeletons are formed in Sclerosponges by Pinacocytes
made of Calc.Carbonates
Sponges divided into Calcarea sponges , Glass sponges
&Demo sponges
Adult Sponges are sessile & fixed but can move at 1-4mm
/day, can close / open their Osculum/Ostia, Juveniles swim
about before getting fixed to sea rocks.
WATERFLOW SYSTEM OF SPONGES
SPONGE WATERFLOW SYSTEM
CHOANOCYTE WITH FLAGELLA- SPONGES
HISTOLOGY OF SPONGES
BASIC STRUCTURE OF SCLERO- SPONGES

WATER FLOW

MESOHYL
CHOANOCYTE

SPICULE
ARCHEOCYTE

PINACOCYTE

EXOSKELETON (Ca CO3)

SEA ROCKBED
CALCAREOUS SPONGES
GLASS SPONGES
GLASS SPONGES ANCHORED ON ROCK IN DEEP OCEAN
DEMOSPONGES
 PHISIOLOGY of SPONGES
SPONGES do not have Respiratory, Digestive, Circulatory &
Excretory systems.
The Water Flow System supports all these Functions
Food particles >50ч are ingested by Pinacocytes by
Endocytosis, 1-50ч are digested by Archeocytes in the Ostia
channels, <0.5 ч mostly Bacterias(80%)are digested by
Choanocytes.
Sponge cells absorb Oxygen by Diffusion & excrete CO2,
soluble Ammonia , mineral particles are either extruded in the
Water current or deposited in the EndoSkeleton.
 Carnivorous sponges like Cladorhizidae are deep sea
animals , preying <1mm size crustaceans, donot have the
water-flow filtering feeding system
Fresh-Water sponges harbour Algae /Cyanobacterias
(EndoSymbionts) within Archaeocytes which provide nutrition
to the Sponges.
CARNIVOROUS SPONGES
ENDOSYMBIONTS IN SPONGES
 PHISIOLOGY of SPONGES
Grey cells play major role in Sponges Host defence by
secreting Toxins to damage Foreign materials.
Sponges Reproduce by Fragmentation,Budding
&Gemmules Asexually.
A Sponge can only Reproduce Asexually if it has
Collencytes( form Mesohyl) &Archeocytes(Totipotent cells) in
it.
Spongocytes form Gemmules by wrapping Spongin with
Spicules &Archeocytes with plenty of Nutrients.
These Gemmules help the Sponges withstand Extremes of
temps. and regenerate when situation becomes favourable.
 Sexually most sponges are Bisexual(Hermaphrodites)
Sperms are released from the Sperm cysts made fom
modified Choanocytes
Released sperms(Spawning) enter sister sponges and
engulfed by their Eggs to form the Larvae ,which swim
about to settle at a new location.
FRAGMENTATION BUDDING
BUDDING IN SPONGES
ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION - GEMMULES IN SPONGES
SPAWNING OF SPERMS IN SPONGES
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN SPONGES
 SPONGES- MISSCLNS.
 Defences of Sponges by shedding Spicules around them/fire
sparks/ Toxins to repel other competitors.
 Predation of Sponges by Sponge Flies seen.
 Sponges secrete Toxins that erode Coral colonies.
 Symbiosis with other Sponges , shrimps do exist.
 The Family tree of Sponges conclude it to be a MonoPhyletic
group.
 Human use of Sponges mostly the Fibrous skeletons of
HippoSpongia &Spongia are widespread , which is now
replaced by Synthetic Sponges made from Polyurethane
Foam, Cellulose Foam, Silica Foam etc.
 Sponges produce various chemicals of Anti
bacterial/antiviral/AntiFungal/AntiTumor(Oxylipins-cytotoxic
to Lymphoma cells) potential.
SPICULES OF SPONGES
SPICULES OF SPONGES SPICULES OF GLASS SPONGES
FIRE SPONGES
SPONGE FLIES
TOXINS RELEASED FROM SPONGES TOXIC SPONGES
SPONGE – ALGAE SYMBIOSIS - ENDOSYMBIONTS
SPONGE –SCALLOP SYMBIOSIS ( EXOSYMBIONTS) SPONGE – FISH SYMBIOSIS)

SPONGE

CLOWN FISH

SCALLOP
SPONGE – CYANO BACTERIA SYMBIOSIS SPONGE – CRAB SYMBIOSIS
SPONGE

CRAB
LOOFA SPONGES FOR BODY SCRUBBING Tarpon Sponges Harvested for Human use
ARTIFICIAL SPONGES MADE FROM PolyUrethane/Cellulose/Silica FOAM
Artificial Sponge of Volcanized Rubber SEA SPONGE FOR HUMAN USE
NATURAL CHEMICALS DERIVED FROM SPONGES
AZURE VASE SPONGE AT
OCEAN FLOOR

THE END