How do sponges collect marine snow?

Sponges collect marine snow, which consists of organic particles and detritus that drift through the water, by utilizing their unique filtering system. They draw water into their porous bodies through tiny openings called ostia, where specialized cells called choanocytes create water currents. These choanocytes capture and engulf the marine snow particles, which are then absorbed as food. The filtered water is expelled through a larger opening called the osculum, allowing the sponge to efficiently harvest nutrients from its surroundings.