filter feeder
Aquatic particle sifter
A filter feeder is an animal that obtains food by straining particles from water.
Baleen whales, clams, and flamingos are filter feeders—they take in large volumes of water and trap tiny organisms or organic matter while expelling the rest.
Oysters are filter feeders that can clean significant amounts of water daily.
Biggest fish species
- manta rayBroad flat cartilaginous fish
- baleen whalePlankton-filtering marine mammal
- clamSand-dwelling hinged shellfish
- musselEdible two-shelled mollusk
oyster · sponge · barnacle · flamingo · krill · sea squirt · tunicate · anchovy
Drifting marine microlife
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- detritusLoose waste from decay
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
copepods · microalgae · food web · water clarity · biofiltration · upwelling · algae bloom · bioaccumulation
Whale's filtering bristles
Movement of liquid mass
- strainingExerting intense effort
- sievingFiltering through mesh
- particulate matterFine airborne solid fragments
Condition of H2O supply
- bioindicatorSpecies showing ecosystem health
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- shellfish farmingCultivating edible marine invertebrates
- aquacultureFarming underwater organisms
whale shark
Biggest fish species
- manta rayBroad flat cartilaginous fish
- baleen whalePlankton-filtering marine mammal
- clamSand-dwelling hinged shellfish
mussel · oyster · sponge · barnacle · flamingo · krill · sea squirt · tunicate · anchovy · herring
plankton
Drifting marine microlife
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- detritusLoose waste from decay
diatoms · copepods · microalgae · food web · water clarity · biofiltration · upwelling · algae bloom · bioaccumulation · water column
baleen
Whale's filtering bristles
water flow
Movement of liquid mass
- strainingExerting intense effort
- sievingFiltering through mesh
- particulate matterFine airborne solid fragments
water quality
Condition of H2O supply
- bioindicatorSpecies showing ecosystem health
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- shellfish farmingCultivating edible marine invertebrates
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- eatersbig eater, picky eater, clean eater, binge eater, competitive eater
- ecological rolesproducer, consumer, decomposer, predator, prey
- feeding typesherbivore, grazer, browser, plant-eater, scavengers
- filter feedersbaleen whale, whale shark, basking shark, manta ray, blue whale
- fluid feedersaphid, mosquitoes, leeches, aphids, butterflies
filter feederhunter
Pursuer of prey
ambush predator · apex predator · chaser · stalker · pack hunter
feed, filter, feeder, fodder, filtered, filters, filtering, air filter, filtration