Maintenance Functions
Sponges feed whenever pinacocytes lining the incurrent canals phagocytize large food particles, sponges can also absorb active transport nutrients that are found within dissolved seawater, or sponges feed through filtration.
The food sponges consume are usually bacteria, microscopic algae, protists, and other suspended organic matter. The particles sponges feed on are usually within the range of 0.1 and 50 um. (micrometers). Consuming these particles most sponges can help reduce turbidity, the cloudiness or haziness of the seawater, increasing the visibility of seawater.
Choanocytes play an important part in collecting a sponge's food. Choanocytes filter tiny food particles by passing food particles that were once suspended at the choanocytes collar through the base and to the food vacuole. Within the vacuole digestion begins with lysosomal enzymes, at this point pH changes, next the digested food is passed to amoebid cells, which then distribute it to other cells.
The food sponges consume are usually bacteria, microscopic algae, protists, and other suspended organic matter. The particles sponges feed on are usually within the range of 0.1 and 50 um. (micrometers). Consuming these particles most sponges can help reduce turbidity, the cloudiness or haziness of the seawater, increasing the visibility of seawater.
Choanocytes play an important part in collecting a sponge's food. Choanocytes filter tiny food particles by passing food particles that were once suspended at the choanocytes collar through the base and to the food vacuole. Within the vacuole digestion begins with lysosomal enzymes, at this point pH changes, next the digested food is passed to amoebid cells, which then distribute it to other cells.
Recently carnivorous sponges have been discovered. These sponges, usually deep sea, capture small crustaceans with spicule covered filaments. An example of these deep sea sponges would be the Asbestopluma (shown below).
Since sponges are always in contact with water, the sponge must remove nitrogenous waste and they also need to perform gas exchanges. These actions are performed through diffusion.
Individual cells within sponges react to stimuli, since sponges don't have nerve cells to coordinate body functions. Water circulation within a sponge can drop for no apparent reason. The ceasing of water circulation occurs when choanocytes cease more or less simultaneously, which in return could explain that sponges have some form of internal communication. Whatever causes this type of communication is unknown, but it is believed that the communication occurs from amoeboid cells transmitting chemical signals along with ion movement over cell surfaces.
Individual cells within sponges react to stimuli, since sponges don't have nerve cells to coordinate body functions. Water circulation within a sponge can drop for no apparent reason. The ceasing of water circulation occurs when choanocytes cease more or less simultaneously, which in return could explain that sponges have some form of internal communication. Whatever causes this type of communication is unknown, but it is believed that the communication occurs from amoeboid cells transmitting chemical signals along with ion movement over cell surfaces.