Virus predation by sponges is a new nutrient-flow pathway in coral reef food webs
Hadas, Eran, Dominique Marie, Muki Shpigel, and Micha Ilan
Limnol. Oceanogr., 51(3), 2006, 1548–1550

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The removal efficiency of viral particles by the coral reef sponge Negombata magnifica was measured. Virus particles were removed by the sponge at an average efficiency of 23.3% ± 2.9%. Significant amounts of nutrients are transported from virus particles to higher trophic levels via sponges.