Sponge - Wikipedia
WEBA great majority are marine (salt-water) species, ranging in habitat from tidal zones to depths exceeding 8,800 m (5.5 mi), though there are freshwater species. All adult sponges are sessile, meaning that they attach to an underwater surface and remain fixed in place (i.e., do not travel).
What is a sponge? - NOAA's National Ocean Service
WEBSponges — simple aquatic animals with dense, yet porous, skeletons — are highly adapted to their environments. A variety of sponges dot the seascape of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. From round to encrusting to branching, the colors and textures of sponges add to the complexity of the reef. Credit: G.P. Schmahl. Did you know?
Sea Sponges: Pharmacies of the Sea - Smithsonian Ocean
WEBSea sponges are unassuming creatures. An amorphous and unmoving blob of porous tissue on the seafloor, it is easy to assume they aren’t even an animal. But, in fact, they are likely one of the oldest lineages of animals on the planet. They are also a treasure trove of biochemical compounds.
Bioactive Compounds from Marine Sponges: Fundamentals and …
WEBApr 27, 2021 · Marine sponges are sessile invertebrates that can be found in temperate, polar and tropical regions. They are known to be major contributors of bioactive compounds, which are discovered in and extracted from the marine environment.
Sponge | Definition, Features, Reproduction, & Facts | Britannica
WEBAug 14, 2024 · Sponge, any of the primitive multicellular aquatic animals that constitute the phylum Porifera. They number approximately 5,000 described species and inhabit all seas, where they occur attached to surfaces from the intertidal zone to depths of 8,500 metres (29,000 feet) or more.
What Are Sponges and Why Do They Matter? - NOAA Ocean …
WEBMay 9, 2022 · Sponges help create habitat, filter particles from seawater, contribute to carbon, nitrogen, and silica cycling. They have also been used for bathing since ancient Egypt.
Sponges - MarineBio Conservation Society
WEBSponges play essential ecological roles in marine ecosystems. They provide habitat and shelter for a variety of organisms, and some species even form symbiotic relationships with other marine organisms, such as shrimp or small fish.
Soaking it up: the complex lives of marine sponges and their
WEBMay 24, 2007 · Marine sponges (phylum Porifera) are among the oldest multicellular animals (metazoans), the sea's most prolific producers of bioactive metabolites, and of considerable ecological importance due...
Magical mysteries of marine sponges: Current Biology - Cell Press
WEBJan 25, 2021 · Sponges (Porifera) are a key witness to the early evolution of complex life. They are also important for marine ecology and could serve as bioindicators of ocean health and pollution. Their unique abilities in biomineralisation including the formation of glass spicules at ambient temperature can inspire modern material science.
What Makes Sponges Grow? - Smithsonian Ocean
WEBSponges are animals that eat tiny food particles as they pump water through their bodies. They are very common on Caribbean coral reefs, and come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
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