Oxygenation by Sponges in the deep Ocean

• Life began by oxygenation in ocean and the atmosphere
• Oxygen at the upper layer of atmosphere >> bottom layer
• To sustain life the oxygen demand ~ oxygen supply
• At the botton: when demand gets high, lifeforms struggle to evolve

Role of Sponges: 

• Helped in reducing oxygen consumption and creating conditions suited for the evolution of more complex, multi-cellular life with higher oxygen needs 
• Also helped in “removing” phosphorus found in the ocean
• This led to a rise in oxygen supply in the deep ocean for the animals to evolve.

*Courtesy: Nature Geoscience