A Hotlist on Sponges

A Hotlist on Sponges
An Internet Hotlist on Sponges

created by Caroline Jensen

Introduction

Sponges, or Phylum Porifera, are often misrepresented as plants. However, they are a marine species that happen to be the simplest of the multi-cellular animals. They are very small, which is why they are often thought of as plants. Although they are animals, they do not have organ systems. Instead, they have canals and chambers that go though the Sponges and are open to the outside world to flush materials in and out. This is where the Sponge gets it’s Phylum name – pore bearing. Typically, the Sponge has many parts to it. Like many cells, it has a flagella. It is also characterized by many other features. For example, the ostia. The ostia are pores where water and possibly food can enter into the Sponge. If you have ever seen a Sponge, you have seen the donut-shaped things. These are called porocytes. These are located next to the ostia. They are responsible for monitoring the water flow. There are many other features to the Sponge that help regulate the well being of the Sponge.

Sponges are classified by their structure. There is the simplest structure, the medium complicated structure (for Sponges, keep in mind, complicated is not the same as that of a different species), and the most complicated structure. The first one is asconoid, then the syconoids, then the leuconoid. Because Sponges lack the ability to move, they depend on the current and motion of the water to move around. Or, depending on the Sponge type, they might even attach themselves to an object that is mobile. Also, to defend themselves against predators, they will produce a toxic material. Sponges are among the most interesting creatures in our world.

The Internet Resources

3 Stars

Phylum Porifera - This web site includes information, pictures, specimens, and the classification of Sponges: Phylum Porifera. I found this web site helpful, because it has a detailed part regarding everything about Sponges. It also shows some nice pictures that display the physical appearance of the Sponge well. It refers to the many (5000) different kinds of Sponges in the world: some marine and some fresh water. I would recommend this site to high school students and to middle school students, however, I would not recommend it to elementary school students.
Porifera: Life History and Ecology - This web site is a colorful page with many pictures and fascinating information regarding the Sponge. This site starts with an introduction to Sponges. It continues with information on typical sponge feeding, the carnivorous exception, and Sponge Reproduction. If you want to now that water flowing through sponges provides food and oxygen, as well as a means for waste removal, this web site is for you! This web site is excess able for anyone in the 7th grade and up. The site was designed by college students, and they did a great job.

4 Moons

Phylum Porifera - This web site has a large image of a Sponge in it's habitat and a description of the Porifera. At the top of the web site, it shows the Domain (Domain Eukarya), the Kingdom (Kingdom Animalia), and the Phylum (Phylum Porifera). At the bottom of the site, it gives the three different classes of Sponges: Class Calcarea, Class Demospongia, Class Hexactinellida. Now, did you know that? Go to the site to learn more! I would recommend this site to high school students and to middle school students. However, I would not recommend it to elementary school students.
Information: Phylum Porifera - This web site was published by Dr. Hieber, Invertebrate Zoology. This web site was made differently, in that, rather than writing her own description of the Phylum Porifera, or sponge, she gives web sites of other scientists, professors, etc. Some of the web sites include: Marine Biology Web Pages, Kingdom Animalia ( Lower Invertebrates), etc. Nevertheless, it was effective to give information of the Sponge. For example, how do you think Sponges feed? “Poriferans don't have mouths; instead, they have tiny pores in their outer walls through which water is drawn.” Similar to many of the other sites, this web site includes information about the different Classes. However, on this web site the different classes are not presented as information, but rather by links. Thus, there is much more information on the different Classes.
Phylum Porifera: how much deeper would the ocean be without sponges? - This website has three main parts to it. There is an overview of sponges, an Introduction to Porifera, and many pictures. It shows different pictures of different sponges: Yellow tube sponge, Branching Tube Sponge, Sponge Fossils, ect. The overview is comprehendable for middle school students and highschool students, and also for elementary students. The first impression of the site is such that, I thought it was a child's site because of the animation of the cartoon sponge, Sponge Bob Square Pants,
PORIFERA: Sponges - This web site is one of many parts, all of which are focused on Sponges. It has the introduction to Sponges on the first page, the different classes on the following pages : the four classes are Calcarea, Hexactinellida, Demospongiae and Sclerospongiae, and there is also a Taxonomy Table page and 'Key Features'. This web site can be used for all students who are interested in learning about the Sponge. To learn about Sponges, go here!
Ocean Oasis: Sponges - This web site gives helpful information if one wants a quick overview of a Sponge. The information is not so detailed, but it gives vital information about a Sponge in general. For example, it states, 'Sponges feed, breath, reproduce, and excrete by means of pumping water through their body.' Although that may seem as though it is a sort of juvenile comment, it is vital to understand the Sponge. The web site also includes information about the Size, Range and Habitat, and the Natural History of a Sponge. I recommend this site to anyone who wants to know important Sponge information quickly. Although a kindergartner might not understand all of the information, they still may benefit from it.
Sponges of the northeast Pacific - This is a three page web site. It has links to more information concerning the Sponges of the Northeast Pacific. More Specifically, the site talks about Khoyatan Sponges. The site was made by the Khoyatan Marine Laboratory that has a large collection of the NE Pacific Sponges. The point of the site is further reader's knowledge on the Sponge species. This is an excellent site, though I would not recommend it for anyone under the grade of 7th.

5 Suns

Phylum Porifera 'Pore bearing animals' - This web site has links to Metazoan Diversity, Extinction and Biodiversity, Origins and Evolutionary Relationship, and References. On the actual page, it gives a long description of Sponges and their characteristics. It covers the history of Sponges, the Structure of Sponges, the Reproduction and development of Sponges, and the different classes and orders of different sponges. It talks about how the majority of sponges live in shallow marine habitats. Yet, others exist at considerable depths, sometimes even in fresh water. I would recommend this site to high school students and to middle school students. However, I would not recommend it to elementary school students.
Porifera: Sponges - This web site is a link from another web site that is not focused on Sponges. Thus, the information of sponges is limited. There are two pictures of a magenta sponge, and a small part regarding the classification of Sponges. It goes into detail on Calcarea, Hexactinellida, and Demospongiae. This web site is not very helpful if one is looking for information of Sponges, therefore, I would not recommend this site to any high school or middle school students, but a elementary student looking for a nice sponge pictures.
Ocean Animals: Sponges - This web site seems as though it were designed aiming for a child audience. That does not take away from the site, but the font is large and colorful, and it is relatively short. The site starts with an introduction on sponges, explaining their way of life. It explains what a Sponge is: 'Sponges are the simplest form of multi cellular animals. A sponge is a bottom dwelling creature which attaches itself to something solid in a place where it can find enough food to grow. The scientific name for sponges is 'Porifera,' which translates into pore bearing. ' It also explains the ways in which Sponges can reproduce. In addition, it talks about two different kinds of Sponges: Encrusting sponges and the Free-standing sponges. This Sponge site is recommended to all ages.
About Sponges... - If you want to know about 15,000 different sponges (150 being fresh water), this is the site for you! Sponges come is all sizes, colors, and shapes. This web site gives a detailed description of the way of life of Sponges: their enemies (there are few), their ways of reproduction, etc. I think this site is only for high school students or people above the high school level, due to the 'ugliness' of the site.
Sponges: The Weird Wonders of the Seas! - Want pictures, comprehendible information, and more! Come here to see the cross-section of a simple sponge, LARGE Sponges, etc. This site rectifies the comment mistake of thinking Sponges are plants; they are actually the simplest form of multi cellular animals. There are three pictures on this site of Sponges. These pictures are most intriguing: one is the pumping action of a sponge. Another picture shows the size of a scuba diver next to a large Sponge. The Sponge is much larger than the scuba diver. The last picture is of a barrel sponge 'spawning.' The information on this site is comprehendible for all ages above elementary school, and possibly even students of elementary school.

Content by Caroline Jensen
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/listspongesca.html
Last revised Thu Mar 11 20:54:37 US/Pacific 2004