What is the Difference Between Suspension and Deposit Feeders?

Suspension and deposit feeders are two types of feeding strategies employed by aquatic organisms, particularly in the benthos. The main differences between them are:

1. Source of food: Suspension feeders ingest particles from the suspension, obtaining food that is suspended in water. In contrast, deposit feeders depend on the sediment and ingest particles from it.
2. Feeding mechanism: Suspension feeders are mostly filter feeders, capturing and ingesting organic matter suspended in water. Deposit feeders, on the other hand, ingest sediments and digest particles.
3. Energy requirement: Deposit feeders need to eat all the time to meet their energetic requirements from sediments. Suspension feeders do not have this constant requirement, as they capture and eat food particles suspended in the water.
4. Ecological roles: Suspension feeders increase water quality by removing suspended organic and inorganic particles. Deposit feeders, by ingesting sediments, increase oxygenation and nutrient cycling.

In summary, suspension feeders capture and ingest organic matter suspended in water, while deposit feeders ingest sediments and digest particles to acquire food. These differences in feeding strategies result in distinct ecological roles and energy requirements for each type of feeder.

Comparative Table: Suspension vs Deposit Feeders

The main difference between suspension and deposit feeders lies in the source of food particles they ingest. Suspension feeders obtain food suspended in water, while deposit feeders depend on sediments for their nutrition. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between the two:

Both suspension and deposit feeders are aquatic animals involved in nutrient cycling in aquatic systems. However, their feeding habits and food sources differ significantly.