Summary of the nutrient fluxes and its associated parameters.

The table contains the reference labels for the 9 conducted incubations, the date of incubation, the size of the incubated sponges, the initial concentration (μM) of the dissolved inorganic nutrients (silicic acid—DSi, ammonium—NH4+, nitrate—NO3-, nitrite—NO2-, phosphate—PO43-) at each incubation system and the utilization rate (μmol h-1 mL-1) normalized by the 24h incubation period and the sponge biomass. Nutrient utilization rates have been corrected by the control effect. The average (±SD) utilization rate by the assayed sponges is indicated in the lower rows of the table.