Abstract Suspension feeding bivalves are commonly associated with seagrass habitats in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Biodeposits of some suspension feeding bivalves have been shown to be high in nitrogen and phosphorus. Consequently, filter feeding bivalves may act as a bentho-pelagic couple bringing planktonic production to the benthos, thereby elevating submerged aquatic vegetation growth by increasing the nutrients available to the rhizosphere. Laboratory feeding experiments were used to calculate the filtration rate of a typical suspension feeding bivalve Modiolus americanus. Filtration rates were estimated to be 2.87±0.82 l h−1 g tissue dry weight−1. Consumption rates were estimated to be 9.41±2.62 μg Chl a h−1 g tissue dry weight−1. In addition, field experiments were used to calculate mean biodeposition rates. Biodeposition rates were estimated to be 2.25±0.36 g dry wt material g tissue dry weight day−1. Therefore, at mean field densities M. americanus are capable of depositing 218 kg dry weight material m−2 annually. These deposits will contain 215 g N and 7.1 g P. A flower pot experiment demonstrated that the biodeposits of M. americanus were capable of increasing the pore water nutrient content and a mussel density manipulation in the field revealed that the presence of mussels significantly reduced leaf tissue C:N and C:P ratios. Pore water ammonium and phosphate concentrations were four times greater in the highest mussel density than in the control treatments and the lower leaf tissue C:N and C:P ratios in the presence of mussels established that this increased pore water nutrient was available to the seagrass, Thalassia testudinum. Collectively, these experiments suggest that suspension feeding bivalves may be important resource conduits converting inaccessible PON and POP in the water column to elevated sediment nutrient levels within the rhizosphere available for absorption by submerged aquatic vegetation.