The Role of Aragonite in Producing the Microstructural Diversity of Serpulid Skeletons
Aragonite plays an important role in the biomineralization of serpulid polychaetes. Aragonitic structures are present in a wide range of serpulid species, but they mostly belong to one clade. Aragonitic structures are present in a wide range of marine environments, including the deep ocean. Aragonit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/12/1435 |
| _version_ | 1797502261092417536 |
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| author | Olev Vinn |
| author_facet | Olev Vinn |
| author_sort | Olev Vinn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aragonite plays an important role in the biomineralization of serpulid polychaetes. Aragonitic structures are present in a wide range of serpulid species, but they mostly belong to one clade. Aragonitic structures are present in a wide range of marine environments, including the deep ocean. Aragonitic tube microstructures were studied using a scanning electron microscope. X-ray powder diffraction was used to identify the aragonite. Aragonite is used to build five different types of microstructures in serpulid tubes. The most common aragonitic irregularly oriented prismatic structure (AIOP) is also, evolutionarily, the most primitive. Some aragonitic microstructures, such as the spherulitic prismatic (SPHP) structure, have likely evolved from the AIOP structure. Aragonitic microstructures in serpulids are far less numerous than calcitic microstructures, and they lack the complexity of advanced calcitic microstructures. The reason why aragonitic microstructures have remained less evolvable than calcitic microstructures is currently unknown, considering their fit with the current aragonite sea conditions (Paleogene–recent). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:30:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2751bfc569a49b597a047de8d02cac1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:30:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2751bfc569a49b597a047de8d02cac12023-11-23T09:42:48ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2021-12-011112143510.3390/min11121435The Role of Aragonite in Producing the Microstructural Diversity of Serpulid SkeletonsOlev Vinn0Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411 Tartu, EstoniaAragonite plays an important role in the biomineralization of serpulid polychaetes. Aragonitic structures are present in a wide range of serpulid species, but they mostly belong to one clade. Aragonitic structures are present in a wide range of marine environments, including the deep ocean. Aragonitic tube microstructures were studied using a scanning electron microscope. X-ray powder diffraction was used to identify the aragonite. Aragonite is used to build five different types of microstructures in serpulid tubes. The most common aragonitic irregularly oriented prismatic structure (AIOP) is also, evolutionarily, the most primitive. Some aragonitic microstructures, such as the spherulitic prismatic (SPHP) structure, have likely evolved from the AIOP structure. Aragonitic microstructures in serpulids are far less numerous than calcitic microstructures, and they lack the complexity of advanced calcitic microstructures. The reason why aragonitic microstructures have remained less evolvable than calcitic microstructures is currently unknown, considering their fit with the current aragonite sea conditions (Paleogene–recent).https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/12/1435aragonitemicrostructureultrastructuretubewormsevolution |
| spellingShingle | Olev Vinn The Role of Aragonite in Producing the Microstructural Diversity of Serpulid Skeletons Minerals aragonite microstructure ultrastructure tubeworms evolution |
| title | The Role of Aragonite in Producing the Microstructural Diversity of Serpulid Skeletons |
| title_full | The Role of Aragonite in Producing the Microstructural Diversity of Serpulid Skeletons |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Aragonite in Producing the Microstructural Diversity of Serpulid Skeletons |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Aragonite in Producing the Microstructural Diversity of Serpulid Skeletons |
| title_short | The Role of Aragonite in Producing the Microstructural Diversity of Serpulid Skeletons |
| title_sort | role of aragonite in producing the microstructural diversity of serpulid skeletons |
| topic | aragonite microstructure ultrastructure tubeworms evolution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/12/1435 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT olevvinn theroleofaragoniteinproducingthemicrostructuraldiversityofserpulidskeletons AT olevvinn roleofaragoniteinproducingthemicrostructuraldiversityofserpulidskeletons |