BROOKS BIODIVERSITY UNIT 3
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULL QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Phylum Porifera.
Answer: SpongesParazoans-poorly defined tissues
◍ The Primary role of Fungi.
Answer: Decomposers- they break things down
◍ Modes of Nutrition in Fungi.
Answer: Heterotrophs with extracellular digestion
◍ Exoenzymes.
Answer: Fungi Release these enzymes outside of the cell wall. Break down
complex molecules into smaller organic molecules which can be absorbed.
◍ Extracellular Digestion.
Answer: The release of exoenzymes out side of the cell wall, followed by
the absorption of nutrients..
◍ Saprobes.
Answer: Fungi that feed on non-living/dead organisms
◍ Symbionts.
Answer: Fungus that lives with another living organism (form a symbiotic
relationship)
◍ Mutualism in Fungi.
Answer: both organisms benefit, neither is harmed.Ex: Lichens - fungi and
algae (cyanobacteria)Ex: Mycorrhizae - fungi and plant roots
,◍ Commensalism.
Answer: One organism benefits, the other is unharmed
◍ Metazoa.
Answer: multicellular animals
◍ Parasitism.
Answer: One organism benefits, the other is harmed
◍ Examples of Parasitism in Fungi.
Answer: Ex: Fungus as a human parasite (Athelete's Foot)Ex: Fungus as a
plant parasite1. black stem rust on wheat2. ergots on rye3. strawberries with
botrytis mold4. pink ear rot of corn
◍ Phylum Porifera- General characteristics.
Answer: Sponges- Sessile - Filter water through canal system - Mostly
marine
◍ Black Stem Rust.
Answer: Parasitic relationship with fungus and plant. Occurs on wheat
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)- body plans.
Answer: body plans - Asconoid-body bag -Syconoid-body wall forms-
Leuconoid-most complicated
◍ Asconoid.
Answer: Sponge body planBag shapemost simple
◍ Ergots.
Answer: Parasitic relationship with fungus and plant that occurs on rye and
gives hallucinogenic sensations
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)- General morphology.
Answer: -Body layers - Outer: - Porocytes - Myocytes- Middle (Mesohyl)
-Spicules- Spongin- Amoebocytes- Collencytes - Inner"Choanocytes"
◍ Botrytis Mold.
Answer: Parasitic relationship with fungus and plants that occurs on
, strawberries
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)-outer body layers.
Answer: - Porocytes: specialized pore cells - Myocytes: muscle-like cells
◍ Fungi Characteristics.
Answer: 1. Heterotrophic2. Extracellular Digestion3. Chitin-Based Cell
wall4. Most fungi are made up of filaments called Hyphae
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)-middle body layers.
Answer: -Spicules: provide support- Spongin: protein compound that gives
spongy feel- Amoebocytes: similar to stem cells that produce spicules and
spongin- Collencytes(nerve-like cells): useful for structure. look like
neurons and believe to have a precursor to a nervous system
◍ Collencytes.
Answer: Phylum Porifera (sponges)-middle body layer(nerve-like cells):
useful for structure. look like neurons and believe to have a precursor to a
nervous system
◍ Do sponges have a nervous system?.
Answer: No
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)-inner body layers.
Answer: "Choanocytes": cells that can trap particles and water into the cell.
-Morphologically similar to the choanoflagellate.
◍ Do sponges have muscles?.
Answer: No
◍ name of middle body layer of sponge?.
Answer: mesohyl
◍ Hyphae.
Answer: filaments (long and branching) that make up the structure of a
fungusIn most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth
Hyphae are Septate or Coenocytic
◍ Yeast.
, Answer: Yeast is a unicellular fungi and do not have/grow hyphae MOST
FUNGI ARE MULTICELLULAR, BUT YEAST IS UNICELLULAR
◍ What can spicules be made of?.
Answer: calcium carbonate or silica dioxide
◍ Septate.
Answer: You can see the cell separation because the nuclei are confined in
and separated by cell wallsThink "separate"
◍ Sponge Reproduction Asexual.
Answer: -Regeneration: grow into more of itself -Budding: a piece can break
away and regrow somewhere else -Gemmules: spore like structure, that
allows them to survive the dry periods.
◍ Sponge Reproduction sexual.
Answer: - Dioecious: Separate sexes - Monoecious (hermaphrodites): Sperm
and egg on one organism use the water column for fertilization
◍ Coenocytic.
Answer: You cant see the cell separation. It is multinucleated meaning that
there are multiple nuclei not separated by a cell wall
◍ are sponges dioecious or monoecious?.
Answer: Both
◍ Sponge Classification.
Answer: Class CalcareaClass Hexactinellida: Glass spongesClass
Demospongiae-most speciesClass Sclerospongiae-rare sponge found in
caves of coral reefs
◍ Thallus/Mycelium.
Answer: collectively refers to a bunch of hyphae that together make up the
body of the fungusHyphae (smallest unit) make up the mycelium (entire
fungus body)
◍ Haustoria.
Answer: The hyphal tip of a parasitic fungus that penetrates the cell of other
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
FULL QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ Phylum Porifera.
Answer: SpongesParazoans-poorly defined tissues
◍ The Primary role of Fungi.
Answer: Decomposers- they break things down
◍ Modes of Nutrition in Fungi.
Answer: Heterotrophs with extracellular digestion
◍ Exoenzymes.
Answer: Fungi Release these enzymes outside of the cell wall. Break down
complex molecules into smaller organic molecules which can be absorbed.
◍ Extracellular Digestion.
Answer: The release of exoenzymes out side of the cell wall, followed by
the absorption of nutrients..
◍ Saprobes.
Answer: Fungi that feed on non-living/dead organisms
◍ Symbionts.
Answer: Fungus that lives with another living organism (form a symbiotic
relationship)
◍ Mutualism in Fungi.
Answer: both organisms benefit, neither is harmed.Ex: Lichens - fungi and
algae (cyanobacteria)Ex: Mycorrhizae - fungi and plant roots
,◍ Commensalism.
Answer: One organism benefits, the other is unharmed
◍ Metazoa.
Answer: multicellular animals
◍ Parasitism.
Answer: One organism benefits, the other is harmed
◍ Examples of Parasitism in Fungi.
Answer: Ex: Fungus as a human parasite (Athelete's Foot)Ex: Fungus as a
plant parasite1. black stem rust on wheat2. ergots on rye3. strawberries with
botrytis mold4. pink ear rot of corn
◍ Phylum Porifera- General characteristics.
Answer: Sponges- Sessile - Filter water through canal system - Mostly
marine
◍ Black Stem Rust.
Answer: Parasitic relationship with fungus and plant. Occurs on wheat
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)- body plans.
Answer: body plans - Asconoid-body bag -Syconoid-body wall forms-
Leuconoid-most complicated
◍ Asconoid.
Answer: Sponge body planBag shapemost simple
◍ Ergots.
Answer: Parasitic relationship with fungus and plant that occurs on rye and
gives hallucinogenic sensations
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)- General morphology.
Answer: -Body layers - Outer: - Porocytes - Myocytes- Middle (Mesohyl)
-Spicules- Spongin- Amoebocytes- Collencytes - Inner"Choanocytes"
◍ Botrytis Mold.
Answer: Parasitic relationship with fungus and plants that occurs on
, strawberries
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)-outer body layers.
Answer: - Porocytes: specialized pore cells - Myocytes: muscle-like cells
◍ Fungi Characteristics.
Answer: 1. Heterotrophic2. Extracellular Digestion3. Chitin-Based Cell
wall4. Most fungi are made up of filaments called Hyphae
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)-middle body layers.
Answer: -Spicules: provide support- Spongin: protein compound that gives
spongy feel- Amoebocytes: similar to stem cells that produce spicules and
spongin- Collencytes(nerve-like cells): useful for structure. look like
neurons and believe to have a precursor to a nervous system
◍ Collencytes.
Answer: Phylum Porifera (sponges)-middle body layer(nerve-like cells):
useful for structure. look like neurons and believe to have a precursor to a
nervous system
◍ Do sponges have a nervous system?.
Answer: No
◍ Phylum Porifera (sponges)-inner body layers.
Answer: "Choanocytes": cells that can trap particles and water into the cell.
-Morphologically similar to the choanoflagellate.
◍ Do sponges have muscles?.
Answer: No
◍ name of middle body layer of sponge?.
Answer: mesohyl
◍ Hyphae.
Answer: filaments (long and branching) that make up the structure of a
fungusIn most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth
Hyphae are Septate or Coenocytic
◍ Yeast.
, Answer: Yeast is a unicellular fungi and do not have/grow hyphae MOST
FUNGI ARE MULTICELLULAR, BUT YEAST IS UNICELLULAR
◍ What can spicules be made of?.
Answer: calcium carbonate or silica dioxide
◍ Septate.
Answer: You can see the cell separation because the nuclei are confined in
and separated by cell wallsThink "separate"
◍ Sponge Reproduction Asexual.
Answer: -Regeneration: grow into more of itself -Budding: a piece can break
away and regrow somewhere else -Gemmules: spore like structure, that
allows them to survive the dry periods.
◍ Sponge Reproduction sexual.
Answer: - Dioecious: Separate sexes - Monoecious (hermaphrodites): Sperm
and egg on one organism use the water column for fertilization
◍ Coenocytic.
Answer: You cant see the cell separation. It is multinucleated meaning that
there are multiple nuclei not separated by a cell wall
◍ are sponges dioecious or monoecious?.
Answer: Both
◍ Sponge Classification.
Answer: Class CalcareaClass Hexactinellida: Glass spongesClass
Demospongiae-most speciesClass Sclerospongiae-rare sponge found in
caves of coral reefs
◍ Thallus/Mycelium.
Answer: collectively refers to a bunch of hyphae that together make up the
body of the fungusHyphae (smallest unit) make up the mycelium (entire
fungus body)
◍ Haustoria.
Answer: The hyphal tip of a parasitic fungus that penetrates the cell of other
