1
|
Karp MA, Phillips B, Edie SM. Investigations into 3D-printed nautiloid-inspired pressure housings. BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS 2023; 18:066015. [PMID: 37774719 DOI: 10.1088/1748-3190/acfeb8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The shell of the chambered nautilus is one of the few examples in nature of a biologically derived one-atmosphere pressure housing, which the animal uses to maintain neutral buoyancy via a series of sealed chambers. Extant species such asNautilus pompiliuslive at depths from 200 to 800 m, and similar depth ranges have been hypothesized for their hyper diverse but extinct relatives, the ammonoids. Given the evolutionary success of these molluscan clades, their complex shell morphologies may reveal pressure-tolerant geometries comparable to the 'ideal' ones currently used in deep-sea marine robotics: simple spheres and cylinders, which have minimized surface area to volume ratio and easier manufacturability. We modeled and empirically tested 3D-printed bioinspired pressure housings for deep-sea applications using high resolution stereolithography 3D printing. These designs were modeled on the shells ofN. pompiliusand were compared to conventional 3D-printed spheres with similar wall thicknesses and implodable volumes. Two nautilus-inspired models with internal supports designed after their septal walls (one concave, one convex) had a higher-pressure tolerance compared to hollow models, but none outperformed spherical models with the same outer-wall thickness. Although spheres outperform the nautilus-inspired housings, the methods developed here show that pressure housings with complex geometries can be printed by additive manufacturing and empirically tested. From a biological perspective, this method can be a new tool for empirically testing viable depth tolerances for extinct coiled cephalopod morphologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline A Karp
- Department of Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882, United States of America
| | - Brennan Phillips
- Department of Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882, United States of America
| | - Stewart M Edie
- Department of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lemanis R, Zlotnikov I. Fractal-like geometry as an evolutionary response to predation? SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh0480. [PMID: 37494450 PMCID: PMC10371019 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Fractal-like, intricate morphologies are known to exhibit beneficial mechanical behavior in various engineering and technological domains. The evolution of fractal-like, internal walls of ammonoid cephalopod shells represent one of the most clear evolutionary trends toward complexity in biology, but the driver behind their iterative evolution has remained unanswered since the first hypotheses introduced in the early 1800s. We show a clear correlation between the fractal-like morphology and structural stability. Using linear and nonlinear computational mechanical simulations, we demonstrate that the increase in the complexity of septal geometry leads to a substantial increase in the mechanical stability of the entire shell. We hypothesize that the observed tendency is a driving force toward the evolution of the higher complexity of ammonoid septa, providing the animals with superior structural support and protection against predation. Resolving the adaptational value of this unique trait is vital to fully comprehend the intricate evolutionary trends between morphology, ecological shifts, and mass extinctions through Earth's history.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Lemanis
- />BCUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Igor Zlotnikov
- />BCUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Weber C, Hautmann M, Tajika A, Klug C. Is the relative thickness of ammonoid septa influenced by ocean acidification, phylogenetic relationships and palaeogeographic position? SWISS JOURNAL OF PALAEONTOLOGY 2022; 141:4. [PMID: 35510216 PMCID: PMC9016059 DOI: 10.1186/s13358-022-00246-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The impact of increasing atmospheric CO2 and the resulting decreasing pH of seawater are in the focus of current environmental research. These factors cause problems for marine calcifiers such as reduced calcification rates and the dissolution of calcareous skeletons. While the impact on recent organisms is well established, little is known about long-term evolutionary consequences. Here, we assessed whether ammonoids reacted to environmental change by changing septal thickness. We measured the septal thickness of ammonoid phragmocones through ontogeny in order to test the hypothesis that atmospheric pCO2, seawater pH and other factors affected aragonite biomineralisation in ammonoids. Particularly, we studied septal thickness of ammonoids before and after the ocean acidification event in the latest Triassic until the Early Cretaceous. Early Jurassic ammonoid lineages had thinner septa relative to diameter than their Late Triassic relatives, which we tentatively interpret as consequence of a positive selection for reduced shell material as an evolutionary response to this ocean acidification event. This response was preserved within several lineages among the Early Jurassic descendants of these ammonoids. By contrast, we did not find a significant correlation between septal thickness and long-term atmospheric pCO2 or seawater pH, but we discovered a correlation with palaeolatitude. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13358-022-00246-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Céline Weber
- Paläontologisches Institut Und Museum, Universität Zürich, Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Hautmann
- Paläontologisches Institut Und Museum, Universität Zürich, Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amane Tajika
- Division of Paleontology (Invertebrates), American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 USA
- University Museum, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
| | - Christian Klug
- Paläontologisches Institut Und Museum, Universität Zürich, Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Significance of the suture line in cephalopod taxonomy revealed by 3D morphometrics in the modern nautilids Nautilus and Allonautilus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17114. [PMID: 34429487 PMCID: PMC8384854 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96611-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Assessing the taxonomic importance of the suture line in shelled cephalopods is a key to better understanding the diversity of this group in Earth history. Because fossils are subject to taphonomic artifacts, an in-depth knowledge of well-preserved modern organisms is needed as an important reference. Here, we examine the suture line morphology of all known species of the modern cephalopods Nautilus and Allonautilus. We applied computed tomography and geometric morphometrics to quantify the suture line morphology as well as the conch geometry and septal spacing. Results reveal that the suture line and conch geometry are useful in distinguishing species, while septal spacing is less useful. We also constructed cluster trees to illustrate the similarity among species. The tree based on conch geometry in middle ontogeny is nearly congruent with those previously reconstructed based on molecular data. In addition, different geographical populations of the same species of Nautilus separate out in this tree. This suggests that genetically distinct (i.e., geographically isolated) populations of Nautilus can also be distinguished using conch geometry. Our results are applicable to closely related fossil cephalopods (nautilids), but may not apply to more distantly related forms (ammonoids).
Collapse
|
5
|
Peterman DJ, Ritterbush KA, Ciampaglio CN, Johnson EH, Inoue S, Mikami T, Linn TJ. Buoyancy control in ammonoid cephalopods refined by complex internal shell architecture. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8055. [PMID: 33850189 PMCID: PMC8044186 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87379-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The internal architecture of chambered ammonoid conchs profoundly increased in complexity through geologic time, but the adaptive value of these structures is disputed. Specifically, these cephalopods developed fractal-like folds along the edges of their internal divider walls (septa). Traditionally, functional explanations for septal complexity have largely focused on biomechanical stress resistance. However, the impact of these structures on buoyancy manipulation deserves fresh scrutiny. We propose increased septal complexity conveyed comparable shifts in fluid retention capacity within each chamber. We test this interpretation by measuring the liquid retained by septa, and within entire chambers, in several 3D-printed cephalopod shell archetypes, treated with (and without) biomimetic hydrophilic coatings. Results show that surface tension regulates water retention capacity in the chambers, which positively scales with septal complexity and membrane capillarity, and negatively scales with size. A greater capacity for liquid retention in ammonoids may have improved buoyancy regulation, or compensated for mass changes during life. Increased liquid retention in our experiments demonstrate an increase in areas of greater surface tension potential, supporting improved chamber refilling. These findings support interpretations that ammonoids with complex sutures may have had more active buoyancy regulation compared to other groups of ectocochleate cephalopods. Overall, the relationship between septal complexity and liquid retention capacity through surface tension presents a robust yet simple functional explanation for the mechanisms driving this global biotic pattern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David J. Peterman
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA
| | - Kathleen A. Ritterbush
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA
| | - Charles N. Ciampaglio
- grid.268333.f0000 0004 1936 7937Department of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, Wright State University (Lake Campus), Celina, OH 45822 USA
| | | | - Shinya Inoue
- grid.39158.360000 0001 2173 7691Hokkaido University Shuma-no-kai, Hokkaido, 060-0817 Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Mikami
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0032 Japan
| | - Thomas J. Linn
- Division of Paleontology, Frontier Gateway Museum, Glendive, MT 59330 USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
White HE, Goswami A, Tucker AS. The Intertwined Evolution and Development of Sutures and Cranial Morphology. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:653579. [PMID: 33842480 PMCID: PMC8033035 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.653579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variation across mammals is extensive and reflects their ecological diversification into a remarkable range of habitats on every continent and in every ocean. The skull performs many functions to enable each species to thrive within its unique ecological niche, from prey acquisition, feeding, sensory capture (supporting vision and hearing) to brain protection. Diversity of skull function is reflected by its complex and highly variable morphology. Cranial morphology can be quantified using geometric morphometric techniques to offer invaluable insights into evolutionary patterns, ecomorphology, development, taxonomy, and phylogenetics. Therefore, the skull is one of the best suited skeletal elements for developmental and evolutionary analyses. In contrast, less attention is dedicated to the fibrous sutural joints separating the cranial bones. Throughout postnatal craniofacial development, sutures function as sites of bone growth, accommodating expansion of a growing brain. As growth frontiers, cranial sutures are actively responsible for the size and shape of the cranial bones, with overall skull shape being altered by changes to both the level and time period of activity of a given cranial suture. In keeping with this, pathological premature closure of sutures postnatally causes profound misshaping of the skull (craniosynostosis). Beyond this crucial role, sutures also function postnatally to provide locomotive shock absorption, allow joint mobility during feeding, and, in later postnatal stages, suture fusion acts to protect the developed brain. All these sutural functions have a clear impact on overall cranial function, development and morphology, and highlight the importance that patterns of suture development have in shaping the diversity of cranial morphology across taxa. Here we focus on the mammalian cranial system and review the intrinsic relationship between suture development and morphology and cranial shape from an evolutionary developmental biology perspective, with a view to understanding the influence of sutures on evolutionary diversity. Future work integrating suture development into a comparative evolutionary framework will be instrumental to understanding how developmental mechanisms shaping sutures ultimately influence evolutionary diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather E White
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.,Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.,Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail S Tucker
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Lemanis R. A reply to a comment on Lemanis (2020): The ammonite septum is not an adaptation to deep water. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210068. [PMID: 33653131 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Lemanis
- B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universitat Dresden, Dresden, Saxony 01307, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pérez-Claros JA. A comment on Lemanis (2020): The ammonite septum is not an adaptation to deep water. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202641. [PMID: 33653140 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
|