Jan Japhet Palon

MEB21

1. Briefly describe and contrast the syncytial ciliate hypothesis, the colonial flagellate hypothesis
and the polyphyletic origin of the metazoan.
- According to the syncytial ciliate hypothesis, the first animals evolved from large syncytial
ciliates that subdivided to form multicellular organisms. If this hypothesis is correct, the first
animals should have been bilaterally symmetrical and ciliated, resembling simple worms. The
colonial flagellate hypothesis, on the other hand, claims that the first animals evolved from
flagellated protists that lived in colonies. Many modern flagellates live in colonies, so that
provides some support for the hypothesis. Meanwhile, the polyphyletic origin of the metazoan
states that probably all Metazoans have not originated from any single ancestor. They have
suggested a polyphyletic origin for metazoans. It is fairly certain that sponges developed by way
of colonial flagellates whereas other multicellular groups originated from the cellularization of
syncytial protociliates or perhaps the mesozoans.
2. Describe the body plan of mesozoa and placozoa.
- The body plan of mesozoa is simple. There are few dozen cells forming a two-tissue layer
tripoblast with elongated body with a ciliated epidermis. Also, there are no nervous, respiratory,
circulatory, or digestive system. The placozoa on the other hand, is likewise simple. They are
Amorphous, flat (<3 mm) body consists of only a few thousand cells of only four types (and they
possess the smallest amount of DNA ever measured for any type of animal). They also have
two cell layers and a fluid filled space between the two layers of cell contains a contractile starshaped fiberous network of a syncytial cell.

3. Give 8 characteristics of sponges.

a. No definite symmetry.
b. Body multicellular, few tissues, no organs.
c. Cells and tissues surround a water filled space but there is no true body cavity.
d. All are sessile, (live attached to something as an adult).
e. Reproduce sexually or asexually, sexual reproduction can be either gonochoristic or
hermaphroditic.
f. Has no nervous system.
g. Has a distinct larval stage which is planktonic.
h. Lives in aquatic environments, mostly marine.
i. All are filter feeders.
4. Briefly describe ascanoid, syconoidoid, and leuconoidoid.
The ascanoid type of sponge is by far the simplest, it resembles a glass vase. The syconoid is
more complex than the ascanoid in that it has more channels for water to flow through itself
(and thus more oppertunities to snag food particles out of the water), and is generally more
rounded than the ascanoid. The leuconoid is the most complex out of the three in that it has
many channels for water to flow through and is also generally more rounded.
5. What sponge body type is most efficient and makes possible the largest body type.
The most efficient of the sponge body types is the leuconoid because it is the most complex out
of the three and this permits the sponge to develop the most efficient water current and to attain
a larger size (as it filters food from water more efficiently).

6. Define the following:

a. Ostia- any of the pores in sponges through which water enters the body.
b. Osculum - a large aperture in a sponge through which water is expelled.
c. Spongocoel - is the large, central cavity of sponges. Water enters the spongocoel through
hundreds of tiny pores (Ostia) and exits through the larger opening (osculum).
d. Apopyles - a pore in each of the saclike chambers formed by the evagination of the body
wall, through which water passes into the excurrent canals.

References
http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/
science.kennesaw.edu
http://www.earthlife.net/inverts/porifera.html
https://answers.yahoo.com/
http://cronodon.com/BioTech/Sponges.html
www.thefreedictionary.com/ostium