Which aquatic invertebrate is known to feed on fine particulate matter and may include caddis fly larvae?

The collector is recognized for its feeding strategy that involves consuming fine particulate matter, which includes organic debris and microalgae. This group of aquatic invertebrates plays a crucial role in stream and river ecosystems by recycling nutrients and contributing to the food web. Caddis fly larvae, which are part of the collector category, utilize structures made from various materials to capture particulate matter from the water.

In contrast, predators specifically hunt and consume other organisms, which distinguishes them from collectors. Scrapers feed by grazing on algae attached to substrates, focusing more on biofilms rather than fine particulate matter. Filter feeders, on the other hand, extract microorganisms and organic particles from the water column, but they do not typically target fine particulate matter in the way collectors do. Each of these feeding strategies serves a different ecological function within aquatic environments, but in this particular case, the characteristic of feeding specifically on fine particulate matter aligns with the role of collectors.