#filter-feeding

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Flamingo Fluid Dynamics, Part 1: A Head in the Game

Flamingos are unequivocally odd-looking birds with their long skinny legs, sinuous necks, and bent L-shaped beaks. They are filter-feeders, but a new study shows that they are far from passive wanderers looking for easy prey in shallow waters. (Image credit: top - G. Cessati, others - V. Ortega-Jimenez et al.; research credit: V. Ortega-Jimenez et al.; submitted by Soh KY) Read the full article

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Filtering Like a Manta Ray

As manta rays swim, they're constantly doing two important -- but not necessarily compatible -- things: getting oxygen to breathe and collecting plankton to eat. That requires some expert filtering to send food particles toward their stomach and oxygen-rich water to their gills.  (Image credit: manta - N. Weldingh, filter - X. Mao et al.; research credit: X. Mao et al.) Read the full article

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Venus Flower Basket Sponges

Venus flower basket sponges have an elaborate, vase-like skeleton pocked with holes that allow water to pass through the organism. A recent numerical study looked at how the sponge's shape deflects incoming (horizontal) ocean currents into a vertical flow the sponge can use to filter out food. (Image credit: sponges - NOAA, simulation - G. Falcucci et al.; research credit: G. Falcucci et al.; via APS Physics) Read the full article

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Sea Sponge Hydrodynamics

The Venus's flower basket is a sea sponge that lives at depths of 100-1000 meters. Its intricate latticework skeleton has long fascinated engineers for its structural mechanics, but a new study shows that the sponge's shape benefits it hydrodynamically as well. (Image and research credit: G. Falcucci et al.; via Nature; submitted by Kam-Yung Soh) Read the full article

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Flamingo Filter-Feeding

Flamingoes are strange and ungainly creatures, but their hooked bills make much more sense when you see them eating underwater. (Image and video credit: San Diego Zoo; via Colossal) Read the full article

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Freshwater Mussels

Freshwater bivalves like these California floater mussels are critical species for the health of our waters. And although we don't think of mussels as being very mobile, they're actually quite active.  (Image and video credit: Deep Look) Read the full article

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Oil Drops and Filter Feeders

Natural oils provide critical nutrients to filter feeders like zooplankton. These creatures capture oil droplets on bristle-like appendages. But this droplet-catching turns into a disadvantage during petroleum spills. (Image credit: D. Pelusi; research credit: F. Letendre et al.; submitted by Christopher C.) Read the full article

[fuckyeahfluiddynamics]

Oil Drops and Filter Feeders

Natural oils provide critical nutrients to filter feeders like zooplankton. These creatures capture oil droplets on bristle-like appendages. But this droplet-catching turns into a disadvantage during petroleum spills. (Image credit: D. Pelusi; research credit: F. Letendre et al.; submitted by Christopher C.) Read the full article