The deposition rates of suspended sediments varied significantly between sponge habitats as well as between months sampled (Fig. 2 and Table 1). The deposition rates within sponge habitats on outer-shelf reefs were on average 4 and 5 times higher than within sponge habitats on mid- and inner-shelf reefs during winter, respectively (Fig. 2). However, during summer deposition rates remained similar between sponge habitats on inner- and outer-shelf reefs (Fig. 2). High variation in the deposition rates on outer-shelf reefs between the summer and winter months explains the significant interaction term (month×shelf) with considerably higher deposition rates during the winter months than the summer months (Table 1).