Bivalve Feeding and the Benthic Boundary Layer

摘要: Benthic suspension feeders particularly some bivalves have strong structuring effects on rocky shore communities which are commonly dominated by the Mytilidae in most oceans (see Paine 1984). This dominance may be related to at least two important aspects of their ecology sestonic nature food and sessile mode life. The seston is produced a three-dimensional environment flows over animals. Under favourable conditions this continuously replenished currents sinking reproduction planktonic organisms. Thus owing sedentary feeding behaviour there coupling between pelagic benthic environments through bivalves. Energy from pelagos channeled directly benthos via filtering activity organisms eventually used for various metabolic growth activities Dame Patten 1981). Given above it can postulated that biomass other guilds (e.g. carnivores depend primary consumers perhaps even grazers elimination algal animals Dayton 1973) as well overall structure intertidal dependent “success” or “failure” feeders. given central position agents energy flow determined measuring guild. Similar principles hold subtidal macrofaunal assemblages. Wildish Peer (1983) example reported similar relationships Bay Fundy where contributed 88% total production.