{
  "abstract": "Benthic suspension feeders have long been thought to depend solely on particulate organic matter (POM) for their nutritional needs. Our research, conducted in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), shows that the available concentration of planktonic carbon in the reef water is too low to meet the metabolic demands (measured through in situ oxygen uptake) of common bivalves (Spondylus sp. and Chama pacifica) and ascidians (Polycarpa mytiligera and Halocynthia spinosa). In situ measurements confirmed a concentration-dependent uptake of bulk dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and protein-like dissolved organic compounds (fDOM, analyzed via spectrofluorometry) by Spondylus sp. and P. mytiligera, suggesting that DOC uptake may balance their carbon budgets. Stable isotope (δ13C) mixing models indicate that reef-derived DOC (mean δ13C = −18.4 ± 0.7‰) emerges as the primary carbon source for bivalves (57% of their body composition), far surpassing contributions from particulate sources (26% from POC > 100 µm and 14% from POC < 100 µm). While ascidians still rely primarily on POM (60 to 71%), DOC plays an essential role as a supplementary food source (23 to 29%). These results challenge the prevailing assumption that POM is the exclusive food source for these organisms. Given the widespread presence of bivalves and ascidians in benthic habitats, our findings highlight their ability to bypass the microbial loop and directly utilize dissolved organic compounds, prompting a reevaluation of current benthic carbon budgets.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Evolution, Systematics and Ecology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel",
    "Faculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Mikhmoret 4029700, Israel",
    "The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat 8810302, Israel",
    "School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 6997801, Israel",
    "Department of Marine Ecology, University of Bremen, Bremen 28359, Germany",
    "Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Arizona State University, St. Georges GE01, Bermuda"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rei Diga",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3621-6423"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Tal Amit"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Benjamin Mueller",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9335-0437"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Amatzia Genin",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8239-8902"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Craig A. Carlson",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2591-5293"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Gitai Yahel",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2306-355X"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b4htf9tgw83kx.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1073/pnas.2606052123",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13732210/",
  "id": "b4htf9tgw83kx",
  "issns": [
    "0027-8424",
    "1091-6490"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2606052123",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "414"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Biological Sciences"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Ecology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2303|Isotope Analysis in Ecology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224110827",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13732210",
  "pmid": "42949973",
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "National Academy of Sciences",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b4htf9tgw83kx.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-08T12:22:14Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13732210",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2606052123"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "heading:Ecology",
      "subfield": "ecology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dissolved organic matter uptake balances carbon budgets of Red Sea bivalves and ascidians",
  "title_text": "Dissolved organic matter uptake balances carbon budgets of Red Sea bivalves and ascidians",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T12:22:14Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b4htf9tgw83kx",
  "venue": "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America",
  "versions": []
}