Abstract
Sponges are the simplest of the multicellular phyla. They lack organs, and tissues are their highest level of organization. Specialized cells accomplish many basic biological functions in sponges. Despite their simplicity, however, sponges display a variety of elegant adaptations to freshwater habitats including a strong capacity for osmoregulation, complex life cycles, a capability to feed selectively on a broad range of particulate resources, and, in many species, an intimate association with symbiotic algae. Sponges are common and sometimes abundant inhabitants of a wide variety of freshwater habitats. In some situations, they comprise a major component of the benthic fauna and may play important roles in ecosystem processes in freshwater. This chapter introduces the structure, function, ecology, taxonomy, and diversity of freshwater sponges.
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