Pedal feeding is associated with juvenile freshwater mussels, yet some species (e.g. Margaritifera margaritifera) live in streams with a consistently low supply of suspended organic particles as food.
Are there any studies to show that pedal feeding is maintained (as a supplement to filter feeding) by the adults of species in highland streams and karst waters?
I know that juveniles use ciliary patches on the foot for pedal feeding. Adults maintain the ciliary patches but I am not aware of any comments on adult pedal feeding. it would seem logical considering time the animals spend buried beneath the surface.
From Vaughn, Nichols and Spooner (2008):
"In a laboratory study, Nichols et al. (2005) found that adult mussels do not actively pedal feed but are capable of accessing benthic food items through cilia-generated water currents that pull material in through the anterior portion of the shell while the foot is extended."
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology