Figure 1

Processing of tracer (13C- and 15N-) DOM (left) and bacteria (right) by deep-sea sponges. Dark red bars represent tracer carbon (CDOM or Cbac) assimilation rates, light red bars represent tracer carbon respiration rates and blue bars represent tracer nitrogen (NDOM or Nbac) assimilation rates in µmol C or Nfood source mmol C or \({\text{N}}_{{{\text{sponge}}}}^{ - 1}\) d−1. HMA high microbial abundance sponge species, LMA low microbial abundance sponge species.