How Blue Mussels go through Respiration |
Mussels breathe exclusively with gills. In different bivalve groups the gill construction can be so different, that the gill construction type is a major part of bivalve systematics. The gills not only serve for respiration, but also for feeding the mussel. Though there are some few species actively collecting food around their place, mussels generally sieve food particles out of the water current caused by respiratory action. Ingestible particles are separated from indigestible ones, the latter swept out by the same water current leaving the mussel. As those particles are clustered inside the mussel, they become to heavy to float and after leaving the mussel fall to the ground and are added to the sediment. So the mussel has got an important part in clearing the water. Blue mussels for example can filtrate up to 5 litres of water per hour, oysters even manage 25 litres.
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