Thursday, June 30, 2016

Who lives in a pineapple under the creek?

....SPONGES

(even though we did not find any)

 

On Thursday we were given the task to find different kinds of sponges in French Creek. Unlike dish sponges, these freshwater sponges were multicellular organisms that attach to a firm surface. Sponges have simple bodies and have numerous microscopic holes that let water pass through and a few larger holes that let water escape. The sponges presence indicate high water quality and low levels of pollutants. We learned that a sponges have very hollow bodies and hold its shape with the help of mesohyl, a jelly-like substance made from collagen.






















With our snorkels and masks we headed out into the creek to look for sponges. However we found no sponges but campers were able to find catfish, crawfish and a leech.

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