Question

What do sponges use to digest food?

Answer 1

Sponges are one of marine organisms that are found deep inside the oceans. They belong to phylum Porifera. They are multicellular organisms having pores all over the body. These pores help in movement/circulation of the ocean water all over the body.

Complete answer:
Sponges are categorised under kingdom Animalia. Their porous body plays a major role in digestion. Unlike the other marine organisms, they are non motile, that is they remain stuck to the position of their origin due to which hunting or grabbing food is not possible for them. Therefore, their porous body helps in food digestion such that ocean water keeps circulating throughout the body and conducts the process of respiration, digestion, excretion,etc. simultaneously.
In simple words, whenever this ocean water enters into the body of sponges, it carries food materials and oxygen along. This food material breaks down in digestion canals and helps in food digestion. However, for digestion sponges use Amoebae. Several amoebic cells are present in the inner lining of the sponge body that help in breaking down food materials into nutrients and absorption of these nutrients by the sponge body. On the contrary, they also receive some nutrients from the same food. Thus, the two share a symbiotic relationship benefitting both the organisms.
While on the other hand the oxygen is used for the process of respiration that helps in energy production and carrying out metabolic processes.

Note:
After the completion of all these processes, this water leaves the sponge body through an opening called oscula. This opening removes water along with excretory products. Therefore, the process of digestion takes place in the body of sponges.