The Role of Sponges in the Ecosystem
According to Castello Branco, sponges are one of the most diverse and abundant groups of organisms on the bottom of the ocean and play a very important role in the marine ecosystem. For instance, sponges provide a refuge for many other species. They are also filter-feeding animals, which means they are capable of maintaining the balance of micro plants and animals. As if that weren’t enough, sponges play important roles in the ocean’s nitrogen and carbon cycles.
Sponges may even be capable of having an impact on human health. Castello Branco said that as sessile animals, or animals that are attached to an underwater surface and do not move around, sponges defend themselves by producing chemical compounds that may be useful in treating human diseases.
