Tab.1: Incorporation of different microalgae species by Dendronephthya sp. in relation to cell density and incubation time. The contribution of microalgae to the daily organic carbon demand of Dendronephthya sp. varied considerably depending on conditions. A realistic contribution is 26% as it is recorded at 600-6000 cells ml-1 and during a short incubation time (1h). When offered Nannochloropsis sp., considerable differences were found between the ingestion rates for isolated terminal branches and for branches which remained on larger colonial fragments during incubation (tall fragments). Respiration: 0,761 mg O2 x mg protein-1 x 24h-1 which is equivalent to 22.83 µg org.C x mg protein-1 x 24h-1, on the basis of RQ=0.8. Conversion factors were taken from Strathmann (1967) and C. Gallegos (pers. communication)
