title: Ecology and energetics of two Antarctic sponges.
abstract: Retention efficiencies, pumping and respiration rates of the two Antarctic sponge species Mycale acerata and Isodictya kerguelensis from Potter Cove, King George Island, were measured. None of the species reached a 100% retention efficiency at any given particle size. This is probably due to the sediment-laden environment in which the animals were dwelling. A less efficient retention decreases the risk of the filtering structures being clogged. Both species filter down into the bacterial size range. Pumping rates of the species were 180 ml h(-1) (M. acerata) and 220 ml h(-1) (I. kerguelensis) per g ash free dry mass (T=1 degrees C), being lower than measured in temperate water species. Oxygen consumption was 0.088 ml O(2) h(-1) (M. acerata; T=1.8 degrees C) and 0.035 ml O(2) h(-1) (I. kerguelensis; T=1 degrees C) per g ash free dry mass.
authors.affiliation: Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research, Columbusstrasse, 27515, Bremerhaven, Germany
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalke