Microparticulate feeds for marine suspension-feeders

The development of microparticulate food particles for marine suspension-feeders is discussed with respect to the difficulties of nutrient delivery in the aquatic environment and to feeding and digestion in crustacea and bivalve molluscs. Loss of nutrients from particles suspended in seawater must be minimized by either trapping nutrients in gel particles or by encapsulation of the nutrients within impermeable walls. The gel matrix or capsule wall must be readily broken down by the animal so as to release the trapped dietary components.