Dauer, D. M.. Biological Sciences, email@example.com
, . M.. ,
HYDRODYNAMICS, FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY AND FEEDING BEHAVIOR IN THE BENTHIC BOUNDARY LAYER
The feeding behavior of benthic animals living at the sediment-water interface can often be modified by changes in near-bottom currents. Over evolutionary time morphological features of such interface feeders may be adapted to deal with changes in current flow over time (e.g., tidal currents) and space (e.g., at increasing heights above the interface). The functional morphology of the feeding palps of a spionid polychaete that is a facultative suspension feeder was studied and compared to other suspension-feeding spionid polychaetes and contrasted with a sympatrically occurring obligate deposit -feeding spionid polychaete. The ciliary groupings of the two species were not remarkably different; however, the two species differed greatly in palp length and dwelling type. Comparably-sized individuals of the facultative suspension feeder had palp lengths 4 to 5 times longer. The facultative suspension feeder produced a sand tube projecting several cms into the water column while obligate deposit -feeder produced a non-projecting burrow. Palp length and projecting dwellings affect numerous aspects of particle capture dynamics and potential exposure to predation and browsing.
Day: Wednesday, Feb. 3
Location: Sweeney Center