MEPS 328:307-311 (2006)  -  doi:10.3354/meps328307

ABSTRACT: The high-speed videos provided by Riisgård & Nielsen (2006; this volume) allow new insights into Sabellaria alveolata feeding processes, but the interpretation of these video observations is compromised both by artifacts of sample preparation and premature dismissal of our findings in Dubois et al. (2005; Mar Ecol Prog Ser 301:159–171). S. alveolata appears clearly to be an active suspension-feeder, while not using grouped lateral cilia to catch particles directly from the water column, but by using both the grouped lateral cilia and grouped frontal cilia to modify current patterns around tentacular filaments to entrain suspended particles. Evidence of inter-tentacle variability in particle processing and bi-directional transport of particles make the calculation of the clearance rate based on ciliary band inappropriate by clearly overestimating the actual clearance rate of S. alveolata.

KEY WORDS: Sabellaria alveolata · Polychaete · Suspension feeder · Ciliary movements · Tentacular filaments · Grouped frontal cilia · Video endoscopy