deposit-feeding

Deposit-feeding is a method some animals use to find their food by ingesting sediment or material from their environment. These creatures, such as certain worms and mollusks, sift through soil, mud, or sand to extract organic matter, nutrients, or tiny organisms hidden within. This process allows them to efficiently obtain nourishment directly from their surroundings without needing to hunt or gather food from elsewhere. Deposit-feeding plays a vital role in ecosystems by recycling nutrients and maintaining the health of soil and sediment environments.