Pearl oysters Pinctada margaritifera grazing on natural plankton in Ahe atoll lagoon (Tuamotu archipelago, French Polynesia)

► Atoll lagoons of French Polynesia. ► Clearance rates of natural pico- to micro-plankton communities by Pinctada margaritifera. ► High day to day fluctuations of plankton composition. ► Nanoplankton was the main source of carbon for the pearl-oyster. ► Plankton fluctuations lead to fluctuation in origin and quantity of carbon filtrated.