Fascinating Filter Feeding Facts You Probably Haven't Heard Before!

Animals, just like humans, have to eat in order to survive.

The prey and feeding habits of each animal are different. In order to avoid eating the same species, animals have different diets.

And based on the physical features and ability, each animal will pick a feeding habit that is convenient. There are six types of feeding in animals.

They are suction feeding, ram feeding, bulk feeding, deposit-feeding, fluid feeding, and filter-feeding. Filter feeding is mainly observed in small and medium-sized invertebrates like sponges, clams, krill, small fish, sea squirts, and a few other organisms in the ocean. Filter feeding is only seen in some large invertebrates, like flamingos.

Almost 80% of the bivalves in the sea are filter feeders. Filter feeders help control the production of coastal phytoplankton and purify the ocean.

Continue reading to learn more about filter-feeding. You can also check out our other articles on are sponges animals and what are sponges made of.

What is filter-feeding?

Filter feeding in zoology is a suspension-feeding method. The suspended debris and other food particles are strained.

It is done by allowing the water to flow through a specialized filtering device.

This method of feeding is seen in clams, baleen whales, krill, and many other fish species. In simple terms, filter-feeding is a method used by several species of marine animals wherein, instead of consuming large amounts of food particles at once, they eat by just taking in everything that is available or suspended in the water.

They then filter out all the unwanted particles and consume only what is necessary or ideal.

This type of aquatic feeding is mainly observed in aquatic species and other species like flamingos and ducks. Such animals that feed by using this method are called 'filter feeders'.

Filter feeders achieve this by using their hair-like structures, also known as cilia.

A water circulation across the gills is created by some hair-like structures called cilia, while the rest of the cilia trap the food particles and send them to the gill face, which is in turn sent into the food groves. Where the cilia are placed depends on the species.

In many worms like the bristle worms, cilia are present on the tentacles around their mouths, while in crustaceans such as brine shrimp, cilia are present on their limbs, which aid in filtering microscopic creatures when the animal is swimming.

The First Filter Feeder

The first filter feeder was Tamisiocaris borealis, a large shrimp-like creature. This creature lived during the Cambrian period (485-540 million years ago).

Did you know? Marine animals like whale sharks and baleen whales are also filter feeders.

However, their method of filter-feeding differs slightly from other animals. Whale sharks do not use their teeth while filtering their food. Whale sharks suck the water from the ocean at a high velocity.

The ocean water enters the mouth of the whale sharks and then goes through the filtering pads, which have multiple holes and act as sieving pads. These pads allow the ocean water to pass through and filter the food particles. Baleen whales also use a distinct filtering method.

There are 12 species of baleen whales. Not all baleen whales use the same technique.

The name 'baleen ' was given to these whales due to their long whale bones, which are also known as 'baleen' (plates). Baleen plates are made of keratin.

These plates are present in the mouth cavities of baleen whales. The baleen plates are used to filter food like krill, oysters, small fish, and other zooplankton that are present along the surface of the water. Baleen whales lick these delicious treats off the baleen plates.

What is the advantage of filter-feeding?

Organisms that filter feed are referred to as keystone species. They have a significant impact on aquatic ecosystems by playing a major role in water clarification. They are also known as ecosystem engineers.

Filter feeding helps to filter out massive amounts of bacteria, phytoplankton, and other waste particles, which cleans water and improves the quality of water. Many filter feeders, especially oysters and mussels that are found in marine waters, are capable of filtering microorganisms and other poisons.

They act as natural water purifiers. Filter feeding can also help determine the quality of water. Shellfish are filter feeders that are mainly employed in determining the quality of water and examining the toxicity levels.

What is filter-feeding in sponges?

Sponges are animals that belong to the Porifera phylum. Unlike other animals, sponges do not have heads, legs, brains, stomachs, or any other internal organs.

Sponges have holes throughout their bodies. They feed on organic particles by pumping water into their bodies with the help of these pores.

Sponges cannot move, hence the only way for them to eat is by filtering the water present around them. Sponges have cells that can conduct a range of biological tasks.

When compared to the cells of other animals, sponge cells are much more independent and can act separately without the help of one another. Water enters their bodies through the holes or pores. A set of sponge cells that are found on the wall act by filtering the food and other particles from the water.

Then the filtered water is pumped back through the large opening. The water enters the body when the whip-like extensions, also known as flagella, that are present on the surface of the chamber move rapidly.

How does filter-feeding work?

Filter feeding works by the use of specialized characteristics like plates or holes, which differ from one organism to another.

These specialized features help to thoroughly search through the ocean water for food while separating the prey or food from the ocean water and other toxic elements.

Filter-Feeding Arthropod Plankters

Most crustaceans are filter feeders. Cladocerans like Daphnia and other copepods mainly inhabit freshwater. With the movement of their appendages, they create water currents that are utilized for feeding.

They filter by using fans of setae, which are also known as tiny spines. These structures are present at the base of the appendage.

The planktonic cells that have been gathered when the water flows through the setae are scraped off the setae. The planktonic cells then pass through another set of appendages, often referred to as specialized appendages, before they reach the mouth.

By using the algae cells, food balls are formed. Mucus is secreted from the glands present below the appendages.

This allows for quickly and smoothly forming the food balls. If the particles are too big, unfit, or poisonous, mouthparts and appendages will reject such particles.

Despite facing several challenges to capturing and eating food, copepods and cladocerans, still, overgraze phytoplankton blooms. Since herbivore populations quickly expand when they detect the presence of many plant cells, the spring phytoplankton bloom, which is a fast-developing algae species that is exceptionally well adapted, is immediately reduced by zooplankton.

Why is whole ecosystem research important?

Human survival primarily depends on the ecosystem. Understanding the specific process of the ecosystem or specific elements that impact the ecosystem will not help in understanding or improving the relationship between humans and the ecosystem.

This is why whole-ecosystem studies are required. Whole research experiments are ecological analyses on a large geographical and temporal scale. H.T Odum and colleagues were the first ones to start whole ecosystem research.

These studies are primarily significant for comprehending the intricate relationships between the species and the natural environment existing in the ecosystem. They are a very important tool because they give a better understanding of our impact on the environment. As a result, they are regarded as an essential tool.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for filter feeding then why not take a look at why do whales breach, or Baleen whale Facts?