Summary
Scanning electron micrographs reveal extensive filter surfaces in the external food catching net of planktonic appendicularia. This filter consists of crossing arrays of filaments about 0.04 μm thick and pores about 0.24×0.07 μm wide. The open area fraction is above 50%. The filter probably enables the appendicularia to feed efficiently on particles much smaller than bacteria.
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References
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Working facilities at the Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, and financial support by the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities (grant no. C. 21.30-8) are acknowledged.
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Flood, P.R. Filter characteristics of appendicularian food catching nets. Experientia 34, 173–175 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01944659
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01944659