Clearance rate of vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) indicator taxa from Norway, Acesta excavata, Lophelia pertusa, Geodia barretti, Phakellia ventilabrum and Stryphnus sp

The different species were given natural occurring seston in flow-through systems, as described in Strohmeier et al. (2009) under different flow speeds. Particle amount in the water entering and exciting the experimental system was measured using a particle counter system (PAMAS Partikelmess- und Analysesystem) and flow cytometry.

G. barretti and Stryphnus sp. specimens were collected from Nakken reef (59°49'53" N, 5°33'44" E DMS) and Langenuen Fjord (60°00'37" N, 5°19'14" E DMS). The sponge P. ventilabrum was collected from Korsfjorden (60º9'46.8" N, 05º10'24" E DMS). L. pertusa and A. excavata were collected from the Nakken reef (59°49'53" N, 5°33'44" E DMS).