Tube ultrastructure of Pomatoceros americanus (Polychaeta, Serpulidae): Implications for the tube formation of serpulids

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 2009
Journal Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences
Volume | Issue number 58 | 2
Pages (from-to) 148-152
Organisations
  • Faculty of Science (FNWI)
Abstract The inner tube layer of Pomatoceros americanus has a complex oriented ultrastructure, which cannot be explained by the standard granular secretion model, predicting a largely unoriented structure of the tube. In the lamello-fibrillar structure of the inner tube layer, the crystallization axis of crystals has a uniform orientation, which is not continuous through successive growth increments. The complex biomineral structures of P. americanus suggest a matrix-controlled crystallization model rather than solidification of a slurry with calcareous granules deposited on the tube aperture.
Document type Article
Language English
Published at https://doi.org/10.3176/earth.2009.2.05
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Vinn_Kirsimae_tenHove2009Pamericanus.pdf (Final published version)
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