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Biomechanics and Energy Cost of the Amphipod Corophium volutator Filter-Pump

Marine Biological Research Centre, University of Southern Denmark, Hindsholmvej 11, DK-5300 Kerteminde, Denmark

E-mail: hur{at}biology.sdu.dk

The integrated function of the setal filter-basket and the pleopodal pump in the burrowing amphipod Corophium volutator was studied by video-microscopy in order to evaluate the energy costs of filter feeding. Video-microscope observations indicated that, in general, nine short, water-pumping beat cycles of the pleopods are succeeded by one slow cycle that coincides with cleaning of the setal filter and transient slowdown of inhalant water velocity. The position of the plumose setal filter on the second pair of gnathopods ensures that all water runs through the filter-basket. The fine V-shaped bristles on the setae enlarge the total filter area so that the velocity of water flowing through the filter is relatively slow, about 2.5 mm s^–1, giving rise to a resistance of about 2.9 mm H₂O, which is the most important contribution to the total pressure drop in the system. In "standard" individuals of C. volutator with lengths of 3 and 6 mm, the normal operating pump pressure and pumping rate were, respectively, 2.6 and 3.1 mm H₂O, and 18.3 and 85.5 ml h^–1; the overall pump efficiencies were 5.1% and 11.6%, respectively. These results show that the Corophium filter-pump is comparable to other low-pressure biological pumps in filter-feeding marine invertebrates, such as mussels, polychaetes, ascidians, and bryozoans.