Modelling of ciliary downstream collecting in suspension‐feeding invertebrates

Abstract

The motion of fluid and suspended particles in ciliary downstream collecting suspension feeding is investigated on the basis of both experimental and numerical work. Throughout the paper, the suspension‐feeding polychaete Sabella penicillus is chosen to be the model species. Particle retention rate measurements indicate that S. penicillus is able to retain effectively particles of sizes much smaller than the overall size of its filtering unit. From frame‐by‐frame analysis of microscopical video recordings of the feeding organ of S. penicillus particle trajectories and velocities are inferred. By numerically solving the quasi‐steady Stokes equations for creeping flow in a boundary integral equation formulation and by introducing simple steady and unsteady cilia models a simple computational model of the S. penicillus filtering unit is constructed. A percentage of computed fluid particle trajectories is found to follow pathlines which resemble the experimentally observed particle capture. The results indicate that particle capture in suspension‐feeding can be realized solely by particle kinematics of locally driven creeping flow field as they exist in ciliary driven flow. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Size Selectivity in Artificial Cilia–Particle Interactions: Mimicking the Behavior of Suspension Feeders

“…Herein, we use computational and analytical approaches to model systems that involve this minimum design concept and show that the size selectivity displayed by suspension feeders can arise simply as a result of competition between fundamental adhesive and hydrodynamic forces. Notably, there have been few modeling studies on cilia–particle interactions − despite the prevalence of such interactions in a broad range of vital biological phenomena, e.g., in the expulsion of particulates from the respiratory tract and the transport of egg cells along the oviduct. , With the ever-increasing role of artificial cilia in microfluidics, , such studies are critical not only for obtaining basic insight into biological phenomena but also for designing new, high-performance devices with potential biomedical applications. , …”

A review of the role played by cilia in medusozoan feeding mechanics

“…'Tentaculate' here refers to cylindrical structures such as tentacles, palps, tube feet, and even mucus nets. Riisgård et al (2000) cited four types of capture mechanisms for ciliated suspensivores (see Table 1): (i) upstream collection, in which particles are collected on the upstream side of a current-generating ciliary band; (ii) downstream collection, in which food particles are captured by compound cilia (which also create the current) and are then transferred to the downstream side of the current for collection (see Mayer, 2000Mayer, , 2001; (iii) ciliary sieving, in which particles are retained by a mechanical filter formed by a band of rigid cilia distinct from the current-generating band; and (iv) cirral trapping, in which the eulaterofrontal cirri beat against the current driven by the currentgenerating lateral cilia. Scan and trap (LaBarbera, 1984) A constant flow of water is continuously moved by an animal or its filter structure.…”

“…Among the diverse functions of motile cilia, such as locomotion (Chia, Buckland‐Nicks & Young, 1984 b ; Heimbichner Goebel et al ., 2020), gamete transport (Southward, 1955), and gas exchange (Shapiro et al ., 2014), a role in particle collection is widespread among marine invertebrates (Strathmann, 1973; Shimeta & Koehl, 1997; Costello, Loftus & Waggett, 1999; Mayer, 2000, 2001; Colin et al ., 2010; Riisgård & Larsen, 2010).…”