Ecology of Porifera

Sponges are very large and have irregular shapes. They provide homes for many other
sea creatures.Sponges work with photosynthetic bacteria and this bacteria provides food to the
sponge and in return the sponge protects the bacteria. They live on the sea floor so they receive
little sunlight. Spicules collect incoming light so the sponge can carry out photosynthesis.
Without the spicules the sponge couldnt get the nutrition they need. They provide protection to
other animals because nothing is going to eat it because it is poisonous and is hollow so it can
fit a lot of animals.
Comparison Between Porifera and Cnidaria
Cnidarians get their name from cnidocytes or stinging cells. These are one of the
specialized cells for this organism. They also have statocytes, and epidermal cells. In
cnidocytes there is a nematocyst, which is a poison-filled structure. These help kill organisms
that may harm them or so that the cnidarian can eat it. For the porifera it has an asymmetrical
body plan with a central cavity, while Cnidaria has radial symmetry and has a gastrovascular
cavity acting as a stomach. For feeding the Porifera they filter feed intracellularly and Cnidaria
use gastrovascular cavity and is extracellular. All of respiration, circulation, and excretion for
both systems use diffusion. Porifera have no nervous system and respond by toxins, while the
cnidaria have a nerve net. Both organisms can reproduce assexually and sexually. Cnidarians
are radially symmetrical. They have a life cycle that has two different-looking stages called the
polyp and medusa. A polyp has a cylindrical body with tentacles and the mouth points upwards.
The medusa is bell-shaped with the mouth at the bottom. The polyps and medusas have a body
wall that protects the jellyfish called the gastrovascular cavity. The gastrodermis is the inner part
of the gastrovascular cavity. Like the human the epidermis is the outer part. The mesoglea is the
layer in between the gastrodermis and epidermis.
Comparison Paragraph of Annelids
Annelids have segmented bodies and these some are specialized to carry out functions
such as the respiratory system. This is different than Porifera and Cnidaria because each one
has some sort of symmetry. Also Annelids have formed organs that do more specific tasks. The
circulatory, respiratory, and excretory are not depending on only diffusion, but now there are
specific organs to make the system more efficient and complex. Cnidaria had specialized
tissues and cells but no organs and Porifera had none. Like Porifera, Annelids are filter feeders
but are extracellular. They have a closed circulatory system and breathe through gills
(underwater) and through the mouth (outside). Waste is excreted through the anus instead of
diffusion. Like the Cnidaria, they have a nervous system, but they reproduce sexually instead of
both assexually and sexually. They have aortic arches for circulation. They also have nerves
and cerebral ganglia for response and they have muscles. Nephridia are used for excretion and
have gonads for reproduction.
Comparison by Mollusca

Compared to Porifera, Cnidaria, and Annelids, Molluscs have developed gills to be able
to breathe underwater. Molluscs have also developed two different systems for the circulatory;
Branchial and the systemic heart. They also created a defensive mechanism by spraying ink
and distracting and impairing enemies. Mollusks are not hermaphroditic. They lay down eggs
and sperm gets excreted and meets a random egg.
Comparison by Arthropoda
Compared to Molluscs, Arthropods have developed new organs because they are
primarily terrestrial animals. They have developed compound eyes and new appendages for the
abdomen and thorax. They also have tracheal tubes, which is part of the respiratory system and
air enters and leaves through spiracles. The closed circulatory system has become much faster
and have developed arteries. They also have developed taste receptors and now excrete its
waste using malpighian tubes.