suspension feeders

Question 1

Name four reasons why bivalves are important

Answer 1

•Experimental and monitoring animals (mussel watch program)

•Food source (other animals & humans)

• Aquaculture
• Key role in benthic-pelagic coupling (transfer of organic matter to the sediments & remineralisation back to the water column)
• they filter a lot of water

Question 2

• Phylum: _____
• Class: Bivalvia (two symmetrical shells)
• Order: _____(feed via trapping particles on a gill)

Answer 2

Mollusca

Lamellibranchia

Question 3

Draw and label the feeding - particle collection of bivalves

Answer 3

Question 4

What is the function of the latteral cilia in bivalves?

lateral frontal cilia?

frontal cilia?

Answer 4

latteral cilia-Drives water (crates current)

lateral frontal cilia -strains particles and transfers them to the frontal cilia (0.6 um)

frontal cilia-bind particles in mucus and transport to the marginal grove

Question 5

what is a bi-product of suspension feeders?

Answer 5

a greater flux of organic matter to the benthos via biodeposition

Question 6

what can cause an epidemic in suspension feeding communities?

Answer 6

Too much-suspended sediment –> clocks up gills during the filtering process

Question 7

what is the function of the style?

Answer 7

enzymes of the style break down phytoplankton cells

Question 8

how much water can a big clam filter per hour?

Answer 8

about 12l

Question 9

Nutrient depletion of mussel beds is a function of ___?

Answer 9

flow speed, distance, feeding rate

Question 10

How may adult suspension feeders influence the recruitment of young nearby?

Answer 10

adults may filter out larvae before they settle

activities and created turbation prevents juveniles from settling

Question 11

How do mussels speed up processes in the ecosystem?

Answer 11

primary production is increased as limiting nutrients (NH4, PO4) are made available to primary producers (phytoplankton) by mussels due to their metabolic waste

they introduce organic matter into the sediment to accelerate decomposition

Question 12

what services do bivalve suspension feeders provide for the ecosystem?

Answer 12

clear water

keep chlorophyll-a concentration low

prevent nitrification

Question 13

Bivalves are likely to regulate phytoplankton biomass when the _____ time of the water body is greater than ____ time

Answer 13

residence

clearance