All sponges feed holozoically. The flagella of the choanocytes beat inwards, creating inhalant currents through the ostioles. Small food particles of many types are ingested by the choanocytes at the base of the protoplasmic collar. The exact manner in which the ingestion takes place is not known. The food is digested intracellularly and it is presumed that the wandering amoeboid cells collect digested food from the choanocytes and distribute it to other types of cells. Water containing defecated particles and excretory materials is swept out through the osculum by the exhalant current.
Respiration is aerobic, diffusion of oxygen being fully effective since no cell is far removed from the water. Growth is interstitial; every type of cell is capable of division. Most sponges are colonial and extension takes place by means of horizontal outgrowths, giving a basal portion which secretes a cementing substance fastening the colony to the substratum. Then, at irregular intervals, vertical outgrowths give rise to upright branches.
Excretion of nitrogenous material is probably largely performed by the amoeboid cells. They are said to convey such materials from other cells and discharge them into the paragastral cavity. With such ready access to water, diffusion would suffice for all excretion of soluble and diffusible products.
Sponges have no nervous system or special receptor cells. Responses to stimuli, even if the latter are violent, are slow and local. In many species, there is an ability to effect slow closure of the inhalant pores by means of special contractile cells around their edges. These cell are stimulated to action by the cessation of water movement, and in still water, they contract slowly and effect closure. Thus they act both as receptors and effectors.
Reproduction occurs by asexual and sexual methods, though with many species, sexually-produced larvae have not been demonstrated. In asexual reproduction, external buds may become separated, or from a cluster of amoeboid cells; it becomes detached from the parent body and is drifted away to found another individual or colony. Sperm and ova are produced from wandering amoeboid cells. All sponges are hermaphrodite and most are protandrous, so that cross-fertilization is probably the rule. One amoeboid cell divides many times to form a mass of small, tailed perm. Each ovum is formed from a single cell which enlarges and becomes spherical. After fertilization, the zygote becomes invested with a layer of the parent’s cells. Within this, the early stages of development take place. After cleavage, an ovoid blastula is formed, wholly or partly covered with flagellated cell’ this is released into the water as a free-swimming larva and thus dispersal of the species is effected. Eventually the larvae settle down and by a remarkable process, the flagellated cells migrate throygh the inner cell layer and become to form the coherent dermal layer. An aperture develops at the free end and becomes the osculum; special amoeboid cells become the porocytes; the jelly is secreted and growth begins.
Having evolved a sedentary mode of life, sponges have developed suitable adaptations. Feeding, respiratory, and defaecation currents are set up by the constant inward beating of the flagella. The minute ostia prevent entry of particles too large for be a protective mechanism under certain conditions. There is effective dispersal by the swimming larvae. The sharp- pointed spicules, which frequently project from the surface, render them immune from predation; no acquatic animals are known to eat sponges.
