Size-Specific Growth of Filter-Feeding Marine Invertebrates

Filter-feeding invertebrates are found in almost all of the animal classes that represented sea, where they necessary links between suspended food particles (phytoplankton and free-living bacteria) higher trophic levels chains. Their common challenge is to grow on dilute concentrations particles. In this review, we consider examples sponges, jellyfish, bryozoans, polychaetes, copepods, bivalves, ascideans. We examine their growth with aid a simple bioenergetic model for size-specific growth, i.e., terms dry weight (W), µ = (1/W) dW/dt aWb, which based power functions rates filtration (F ≈ Wb1) respiration (R Wb2). Our theory exponents have (during evolution) become near equal (b1 b2), depending species, stage ontogeny, adaptation living site. Much compiled data support show rate (excluding spawning terminal phase) may be constant (b 0) or decreasing size < 0). This corresponds exponential function time; however, no general trend follow suggested 3/4 law growth. Many features filter-feeding invertebrates, but modularity applies only bryozoans implying probably rather unique feature among herein examined filter feeders, although early ontogenetic stages mussels, example.