Question

Pores help Porifera to

• A. Remain attached to solid support.
• B. Circulate water and food throughout the body.
• C. Give protection.
• D. All of the above.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Circulate water and food throughout the body.

• Poriferans are commonly known as sponges. They are multicellular organisms with cellular level of organization. They are sessile and sedentary in nature. These have an exoskeleton made up of either spongin fibers or calcareous or siliceous spicules.
• They have tiny pores (ostia) in their outer walls through which water is drawn. Cells in the sponge walls filter food from the water as the water is pumped through the body and the osculum ("little mouth").
• The flow of water through the sponge is in one direction only, driven by the beating of flagella which line the surface of chambers connected by a series of canals.
• Sponge cells perform a wide range of bodily functions and appear to be more independent of each other than are the cells of other animals.

So, the correct answer is option B.