AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The sponges or poriferans (from the Greek poros “pore” and ferro “to bear") are animals of the phylum Porifera. They are primitive, sessile, mostly marine, water dwelling filter feeders that pump water through their bodies to filter out particles of food matter. Sponges are among the simplest of animals.

Detailed explanation-2: -Sponges (Porifera) are sessile filter feeders, which are able to accumulate compounds from the surrounding water, and thus are highly exposed to environmental stress by pollutants of both anthropogenic and natural origin.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Porifera are primarily filter feeders, utilizing food particles suspended in the water and captured by the choanocytes. Food particles consist essentially of bacteria, other microorganisms, and particles of organic debris; sponges also probably absorb dissolved organic substances.

Detailed explanation-4: -Remember, sponges live attached to the seafloor. Because they are attached, they are called sessile. In order obtain food, sponges pass water through their bodies in a process known as filter-feeding. Water is drawn into the sponge through tiny holes called incurrent pores.

Detailed explanation-5: -Choanocytes are the cells that are found in sponges, i.e. in the phylum Porifera.