What body symmetry, body segmentation, type of skeleton, type of digestive tract, type of nervous system, and method of respiration do organisms in the phylum Porifera have? Also what is a unique feature, economic importance, environmental niche, and example of organisms in the phylum Porifera?
tiger
body symmetry: no true symmetry
body segmentation,: none
type of skeleton: extracellular matrix composed of protein spongin and/or mineral spicules
type of digestive tract: none – digestion is intracellular
type of nervous system: none
and method of respiration: the usual glycolysis and aerobic cellular respiration. The beating of the flagella keeps water (presumably oxygenated) moving through the sponge.
> unique feature,
They can and do reproduce through fragmentation
They can reproduce through “gemmules”
They broadcast sperm but not eggs
They have intracellular digestion, which is typical of some of the protista but not of Animalia
They don’t have true symmetry
> economic importance
Unimportant, for the last 80 or so years. We use artificial sponges now.
> environmental niche
sessile filter feeder
food for some crustaceans
> example of organisms
*shrug* I’ll let you look that up.