Oysters are filter-feeders. That means they suck in the water around them, filtering out the plankton and bits of dead animals and waste that they eat, then spit the water back out, free of that waste. The process feeds the oysters, produces food for humans, and cleans the water around them.
Exactly how much these oysters clean the water, though- that was something that I’d never seen illustrated in a clear, concise, this vs. that sort of way. Until yesterday, that is, when someone forwarded me the following picture:
That’s a pretty compelling picture, originally posted to Reddit by username NoSpicyFood, and followed up with comments about Eastern oysters cleaning up to 50 gallons of water per day. Each. [citation needed]
It’s good stuff, in other words. Take a look at the picture, head on over to Wikipedia to learn more about the Eastern oyster, then let us know what you think of the little guys’ work in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
Source | Images: Reddit.