Ostroumov S.A.
Suspension-feeders as factors influencing water quality in aquatic ecosystems.

In: The Comparative Roles of Suspension-Feeders in Ecosystems, R.F. Dame and S. Olenin (Editors),
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 147-164

Abstract:

Suspension-feeders are found in both pelagic and benthic systems. They function as an important part of an ecosystem's biomachinery that maintains water quality in aquatic systems. They remove suspended matter and excrete faeces, pseudofaeces and dissolved inorganic materials that contribute to nutrient cycling between the water column and the benthic habitats. The filtration rate can be as high as 10.2 liters per 1 g per 1 h (dry body mass). Suspension-feeders are a key part of many natural aquatic remediation systems and they can decrease some of negative anthropogenic impacts. Recent experiments of the author demonstrated new effects of pollutants on the filtration rates of suspension-feeders.

Keywords: suspension-feeders, water purification, bivalves, pollution, filtration rate, surfactants, detergents