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7.3: Reading- Sponges

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    There are two phyla of sponges: Calcarea and Silicea.

    Preserved Specimens

    Examine preserved sponges on display. Identify the osculum. Can you see pores? Some of these specimens are shown below.

    Figure 1. Chalina
    Figure 1. Chalina
    Figure 2. Spongila
    Figure 2. Spongila
    Figure 3. Commercial Sponge
    Figure 3. Commercial Sponge

    Structure of Sponges

    The photographs below are of Grantia. The body of this species is highly folded producing many chambers. In the last two photographs, the living cells have been removed to reveal the spicules.

    Examine the following prepared slides: Grantia c.s.and Grantia l.s. Find collar cells, epidermal cells, and pores. What is the function of the collar cells? What is the function of the pores?

    Figure 4. Grantia c.s. X 400
    Figure 4. Grantia c.s. X 400
    Figure 5. Grantia l.s. X 40
    Figure 5. Grantia l.s. X 40

    Examine a slide of Grantia spicules. What is the function of the spicules?

    Figure 6. Grantia spicules X 40
    Figure 6. Grantia spicules X 40
    Figure 7. Grantia spicules X 100
    Figure 7. Grantia spicules X 100

    Spicules are needle-like structures composed of either calcium carbonate or silica and offer support and protection.

    Contributors and Attributions

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    • Sponges, Biology 102. Authored by: Michael J. Gregory, Ph.D.. Provided by: LibreTexts. Located at: bio.libretexts.org/Under_Construction/BioStuff/BIO_102/Laboratory_Exercises/Sponges. Project: The Biology Project. License: CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

    This page titled 7.3: Reading- Sponges is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lynette Hauser via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.