Mussels eat plankton by filtering water and straining out the edible material. This process is essential for their survival and is how they obtain nutrients from their environment.
The Filtering Process
Mussels, like zebra mussels, are classified as suspension feeders. This means they feed on particles suspended in the water column.
According to scientific observations, mussels consume various small organisms and organic matter, including:
- Phytoplankton
- Small zooplankton
- Large bacteria
- Organic detritus
The mechanism they use to capture these food sources is quite effective. They actively move water through their bodies and, as referenced, they achieve this by "filtering the water and straining out the edible material."
How Straining Works
Inside the mussel, specialized structures, often gills covered in tiny hair-like structures called cilia, create currents that pull water into the mussel. As the water passes over the gills, the edible particles – the plankton and other detritus – get trapped in mucus. The cilia then move this mucus, along with the trapped food, towards the mussel's mouth. Non-edible particles are typically rejected and expelled.
This continuous filtering allows mussels to process large volumes of water, effectively gathering enough food to sustain themselves from the plankton and other suspended matter present in their aquatic habitat.
