COMPARISON BETWEEN PORIFERA AND CNIDARIA Colwyn Sleep INTRODUCTION Porifera Cnidaria Porifera and Cnidaria are organisms which share similar characteristics with one another. -They are both multicellular, they consist of many cells working together. They are both eukaryotic, they have DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus. -They are both heterotrophic, they ingest other organic material. -They also can both be found in similar marine environments (with the exception of a few freshwater species.) GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Porifera Sponges, or “ The Pore Bearers” are among the oldest multicellular species, Cnidaria with fossils dating back over 600 This phylum includes animals such as coral, million years ago. They are made up of jellyfish, coral, and hydroids. over 9000 different species and can The name “Cnidae” refers to their “stinging range in size from 0.5cm tall to 2m nettles” tall . Cnidaria are classified as a “more complex” phylum than porifera. SHAPE CHARACTERISTICS Cnidarians are either vase shaped or bell shaped and have radial symmetry (producing two equal parts if cut longitudinally) Porifera are “asymmetrical” meaning there is Cnidarians range in size from as small as a 0.5cm tall no symmetry in their body structure. This is bell up to a 2.4 m diameter with tentacles ranging due to the fact that they have no true upwards of 50 meters. mesoderm or a “body plan.” NERVOUS SYSTEM Porifera do not have any form Cnidaria have simple nervous system called a of nervous system but their nerve net. These nerve cells react to the presence individual cells have the ability of food and danger for the purposes of feeding to sense and react to stimuli in and protection. the environment. MOVEMENT Porifera are only motile in their laval form. The Although they lack a true muscular mature form is sessile (non-moving) which is one system, cnidarians are able to move of the main reasons for these animals being using specialized cells that can contract originally classified as plants. and relax (eg. in the tentacles) RESPIRATION METHOD AND STRUCTURES Porifera do not have a true respiratory system. Gas exchanges directly between cells and Cnidaria do not have a true respiratory system. water by diffusion (O2 diffuses into and CO2 Gas exchanges directly between cells and water out of cells). by diffusion (O2 diffuses into and CO2 out of Water enters via tiny pores called ostia, cells) both across epidermis and gastrovascular incurrent. tissues Water exits via a massive pore, osculum, excurrent. EXCRETION METHOD AND STRUCTURES Cnidaria do not have a true excretory Porifera do not have a true excretory system. system. They have specialized cells, amebocytes, which Their waste diffuses from cells into help remove waste from other cells in the sponge, gastrovascular cavity and is then released or cells release waste directly to water. Wastes are through the mouth then carried away out of the osculum by water currents. Water enter via ostia, incurrent. Water exits via osculum, excurrent. FEEDING METHOD AND STRUCTURES Porifera are filter-feeders meaning their food enters with water and they filter the food Many Cnidarians are carnivorous predators. out. They capture small animals using their Water enters via tiny pores, ostia, incurrent. nematocysts (stinging cells). They then use Water exits via massive pore,osculum, their tentacles to push food through their excurrent. mouth into their gastrovascular cavity Collar cells (choanocytes) engulf and digest the food. DIGESTION METHODS AND STUCTURES Cnidarians do not have a true digestive Digestion in sponges occurs when the system. flagella of choanocytes draws water Food enters their gastrovascular cavity through the holes in the body wall, then via mouth and extracellular digestion expels it through the osculum. Here, enzymes are secreted into their specialized collar cells trap food particles gastrovascular cavity. and digest them, or pass them on to an Cells lining the cavity absorb the ameboid-like cell for digestion and digested nutrients and smaller food circulation particles. REPRODUCTION Asexual and sexual reproduction both occur in sponges. Asexual reproduction occurs by fragmentation or budding. In fragmentation, a Reproduction in cnidarians takes place sexually or piece breaks off and forms a separate animal. asexually by budding. In budding, the animal reproduces by growing a second sponge from the side of the parent that eventually detaches. In sexual reproduction, an egg and sperm combine to form a flagellated zygote which swims to a new location. LIFE CYCLE The first stage of life for a porifera is Cnidarians alternate as a free swimming larvae. Once between medusa and attached to a solid object such as a polyp forms in their life rock, the larvae can grow into a cycle. young, and eventually mature sponge. SURPRISING FACTS -Porifera skeletons were once used as -Cnidarians have a single a washing sponge before synthetic external opening that serves sponges became common. as both the mouth and the -The bath sponge actually received its anus name from the animal. -Cnidarians such as the Box -Sponge Reefs were thought to be Jellyfish are among the most abundant during the Jurassic period deadly creatures on earth. 200 million years ago. The Box jellyfish sting will -One cubic centimetre of sponge can cause death in a matter of filter more than 20L water per day minutes. 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