How do Daphnia help cleanse reservoir water?

Daphnia, a type of branchiopod, contribute to the cleansing of reservoir water through their specialized method of filter feeding.1

These crustaceans utilize their trunk limbs to gather food by employing filters composed of fine hairs known as setae. These structures effectively separate suspended particles from the water, allowing the Daphnia to collect and consume material as small as bacteria. Because these organisms are often found in high abundance within reservoirs, their continuous consumption of such small particles plays a significant role in clarifying and cleansing the water.1