@Doug_Bostrom I think it is a particularly big deal in oligotrophic (low production) places like the Red Sea. In places with lots of plankton I am skeptical, since particulate organic matter including plankton and detritus will become the major portion of their food in terms of mass. But still, as someone who studied how Red Sea bivalves integrate dissolved nitrogen, I do find it a big deal they can do the same with carbon!
Thanks Dan!
I'm deeply ignorant of these matters but the discovery seems entirely commensurate with a seemingly basic fact of biology and evolution working together: absolutely no plausibly useful nutrients are left on the table by the vast assemblage of diners at the global dinner party. There is a hungry guest for every morsel. All plates are licked clean, completely. :-)
In the long run! Lots of transient states with exceptions, which can be geologically long.
@Doug_Bostrom it is pretty wild they are able to make a living from DOC in seawater. There is not much there, maybe in a similar order of magnitude as if we were trying to survive off of only LaCroix. Those Spondylus have to filter an insane quantity of water to get enough food!