Image from Encylopedia Britannica.

Poriferans, commonly known as sponges, are predominantly marine. However, 219 species are known from fresh waters worldwide, and 30 of those are known from North America (Manconi & Pronzato, 2008). Adults are sessile filter-feeders that tend to encrust on hard surfaces.

Zoologically, poriferans are interesting because they lack true tissues, maintaining a cellular grade of organization. Sponges also perform important ecosystem functions such as filtering water and providing habitat/resources for other invertebrates.

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Bibliography

• Pechenik, J.A. 2015. Biology of the Invertebrates, 7th edition. McGraw-Hill, NewYork.. 606 pp.
• Zhang, Z.-Q. 2011. Animal biodiversity: An introduction to higher-level classification and taxonomic richness. Zootaxa 3148: 7-12. [Available online]
• Hooper, J.N.A., R.W.M. Van Soest & A. Pisera. 2011. Phylum Porifera Grant, 1826. In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal biodiversity: An outline of higher-level classification and survey of taxonomic richness . Zootaxa 3148: 13–18. [Available online]
• Reiswig, H.M. & T.M. Frost & A. Ricciardi. 2010. Porifera. [in] J.H. Thorp & A.P. Covich (eds.). Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, 3rd edition: 91-123.
• Watermolen, D.J. 2008. Catalog of North American state and regional freshwater sponge references. Miscellaneous Publication Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources PUB-SS-1040. 12 pp. [Available online]
• Manconi, R. & R. Pronzato. 2008. Global diversity of sponges (Porifera: Spongillina) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 595(1): 27-33. [Available online]
• Annesley, J., J. Jass & D. Watermolen. 2008. Wisconsin freshwater sponge species documented by scanning electron microscopy. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 23(2): 263-272. [Available online]
• Brusca, R.C. & G.J. Brusca. 2003. Invertebrates, 2nd edition. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts. 936 pp.
• Van Soest, W.M. & J.N.A. Hooper (eds.). 2002. System Porifera: A Guide to the Classification of Sponges 1. 1101 pp.
• Manconi, R. & R. Pronzato. 2002. Suborder Spongillina subord. nov.: Freshwater Sponges. [in] System Porifera: A Guide to the Classification of Sponges 1: 921-1019. [Available online]
• Smith, D.G. 2001. Porifera (Sponges). Pennak's Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States, 4th edition: 41-60.
• Underhill, J.C., W.D. Schmid & D.E. Gilbertson. 1982. Taxonomic Keys to the Common Animals of the North Central States, exclusive of the parasitic worms, terrestrial insects, and birds, 4th edition. 205 pp.
• Jewell, M. 1959. Porifera. [in] W.T. Edmondson (ed.). Ward & Whipple Fresh-Water Biology, 2nd edition: 298-312.

Student Essays

• "Diversity and Distribution of Freshwater Porifera in Wisconsin" by Victoria Bertolami (BIOL/WATR 361, Fall 2012 )

Web Pages

• A Wisconsin Bestiary
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biology Browser
• Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System
• Systema Naturae 2000
• Tree of Life
• WikiSpecies
• Wikipedia
• World Porifera Database
• World Register of Marine Species