![]() Within the natural size distribution of each species, the volume-specific pumping rate decreased (up to 33 folds) with the increase in sponge volume ( V, cm 3), conforming to an allometric power function (PR V = aV b) with negative exponents. Sponge size was the main determinant of the specific pumping rate (pumping normalized to sponge volume or mass). ![]() Surprisingly, temperature and food concentration had only a small effect on pumping rates, and the seasonal variation of pumping rates was small (1.9–2.5 folds). We examined, in situ, the variation of pumping rates for five Mediterranean sponge species and its relationship to temperature, particulate food abundance and sponge size over two annual cycles. Nevertheless, the factors that regulate sponge pumping rate and its relation to environmental factors have been rarely studied. They filter large volumes of water, retain suspended particles with high efficiency, and process dissolved compounds. Sponges play an important ecological function in many benthic habitats.
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