Sponges also are just remarkably beautiful. Scientists at UCSB are studying the "spicules" - small rods in the sponge that help give it form - for the unique biomaterial properties that they exhibit. Sponges are very useful to man - in addition to providing a nice cleaning tool, they have served as the source of many biomedical compounds (anti cancer drugs and anti-microbial). The sponge (there are ~5000 different species) belongs in the phylum "Porifera" (the "pore bearers") and if you have ever used a real sponge, you were basically using the skeleton of one of the species from warm, tropical waters. You have asked about one of my favorite creatures - the sponge! I also like Sponge Bob Squarepants, but of course, he has some real advantages over real sponges in terms of ocean survival! Plus, he has a starfish for a friend (my second favorite animal).
How do sponges survive in the ocean and how do they reproduce?
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