Porifera- Sponges

6. Mobile cells in sponges responsible for transporting nutrients, forming skeletalelements, and other functions.
7. Attached or fixed in one place; sponges are often sessile organisms.
9. The phylum of simple multicellular organisms commonly known as sponges.
10. Pores in the sponge body through which water enters for filtration.
12. Outer layer of cells covering the surface of the sponge.
13. Protein fibers in the sponge's extracellular matrix that contribute to its structural integrity.
14. Spicules: Small, needle-like structures made of calcium carbonate or silica that providestructural support in some sponge species.
15. Collar cells in sponges that create water currents and capture food particles.

1. The process by which cells engulf and digest solid particles, seen in sponge cells duringfeeding.
2. Central cavity in sponges where water is circulated for filter feeding.
3. Reproduction: Reproduction without the involvement of gametes, common in spongesthrough budding or fragmentation.
4. Feeding: The method by which sponges extract food particles from water using specialized cells.
5. Lack of symmetry in body structure, a characteristic of many sponge species.
8. A close and often mutually beneficial relationship between different species; somesponges engage in symbiotic relationships.
11. The ability of sponges to regrow from fragments or even individual cells.