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Sponge Research Paper

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Sponges are creatures that many people do really take about, but the truth is that they are fascinating. They are simple compared to many creatures on this planet, but such a simple creature can have intriguing ways to function in life. They have so many different structures that help collect food and allow water flow. Also, there are a few different morphologies that they can take advantage of to survive. One of the most important factor to a sponge’s survival is the water flow velocity to area ratio. For a sponge to survive there are a few structures that water must go through. To get inside the sponge, the water must travel through tiny holes called ostia. The water then flows into an opening called the spongocoel, and finally out of the sponge through the osculum. Inside the spongocoel are tiny flagella which capture the food particles necessary for the sponge’s survival. If the sponge is more complex than the pathway to the spongocoel is more complex. This results in more flagella which will result in more food for the sponge. …show more content…

If the spongocoel of the sponge is too large, there will be areas in the sponge where the water is not circulating. If that happens, the amount of water flow and the feeding efficiency is lowered. If the spongocoel is too small, there will not be that much water flow; therefore, the feeding efficiency will still be low. To maximizing the amount of water flow and the feeding efficiency, sponges have adapted their morphology. The three different types of morphology are asconoid, syconoid, and leuconoid. The asconoid is the simplest structure while the leuconoid is the most complex structure. The leuconoid is the most complex because it has more pathways to the spongocoel which allows a higher feeding

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