Factors affecting the ecology of suspension feeders

Suspension feeders have a paramount role in benthic-pelagic coupling processes. The book explores both the environmental factors affecting its ecology (i.e. seasonal and short time seston dynamics, available food in the water column) and their response to such physical, chemical and biological factors (.e. activity rhythms, diet and capture rates, biochemical balance). The overall study has been made in the Coralligene, a Mediterranean hard-bottom community in which passive suspension feeders (especially gorgonians) are very abundant. Seasonality is described as a key factor to understand potential starvation effects and food constraints in these anthozoans.