The Classification, Morphology, Habitat, and Life Cycle of Marine Sponges Marine sponges are primitive organisms classified as invertebrates within the kingdom Animalia. They are called "primitive" because they lack true tissues or organs. Sponges are commonly referred to as Porifera due to their porous body structure. The phylum Porifera is estimated to include more than 8,000 species. Sponges/Porifera are divided into 3 classes: Calcarea, Hexactinellida, and Demospongiae. Calcarea are calcareous sponges composed of calcium carbonate (spicules) shaped like needles. Members of this class are generally around 4 cm in size and tubular in shape. Hexactinellida are a class of marine sponges that contain silicate and lack spongin. Demospongiae are freshwater sponges that do not have triaxon spicules but have monaxon forms. Extinct sponge classes include Archaeocyatha, Sphinctozoa, and Stromatoporoidea. Porifera are multicellular animals with a simple body structure. This phylum ha...
Actinomycetes as Probiotics to Support Fish Growth The Actinomycetes species that has potential to be used as a probiotic is Streptomyces sp. This species is known to inhibit pathogenic bacterial infections and has antiviral capabilities. Streptomyces sp. Actinomycetes has potential as a probiotic in shrimp aquaculture because it has several advantages, such as acting as an agent that produces antibacterial and antiviral compounds, as a degrader of complex compounds such as starch, protein, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, keratin, and chitin, which play a role in mineralization and nutrient cycling in ponds, as well as in the digestion of shrimp feed in the host's large intestine. The majority are non-pathogenic and have spores that can survive in extreme conditions. The requirements for microorganisms to be used as probiotics are that they must be able to survive in acidic and alkaline conditions, provide protection to their host, and be able to survive in extreme environ...