What is suspension feeding?
Taking in food and water through tiny pores using choanocytes.
Suspension feeding is a method of feeding in which an organism extracts nutrients from the surrounding water or air by filtering particles or small organisms from a fluid suspension. This process is also known as filter feeding. Organisms that use suspension feeding methods include many aquatic animals called suspension feeders, such as bivalves (like clams and mussels), crustaceans (like krill), and some species of fish (like whale sharks). These organisms have specialized feeding structures like filters or sieves that allow them to capture and filter small organic particles, such as plankton, algae, and bacteria, from the water column. Some other suspension feeders, like barnacles, are stationary and use appendages to capture passing food particles. Suspension feeding is an effective strategy for organisms living in nutrient-poor environments, such as the open ocean or deep sea, where food particles are scarce and widely dispersed.
More Answers:
Understanding Choanocytes: The Vital Role of These Specialized Cells in Aquatic Animal Nutrition and FiltrationUnraveling the Function and Impressive Filtering Capacity of Ostia in Aquatic Invertebrates
Unlocking the Secret of Sponges: Understanding their Internal Structure and Filter-Feeding Mechanism