The Algorithmic Beauty of Sea Shells
The Algorithmic Beauty of Sea Shells
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DOI：
10.1007/978-3-662-03617-4
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发表时间：
1998
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影响因子：
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通讯作者：
H. Meinhardt
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文献类型：
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作者：
H. Meinhardt
热带贝壳上的颜料图案非常美丽且多样。它们的规律性和不规则性的混合令人着迷。特定的模式似乎遵循特定的规则，但这些规则允许变化。没有两个壳是完全相同的。静止的图案看起来是静态的，事实上，它们是由钙质组成的？编辑材料。然而，正如本书将要展示的那样，产生这种美感的根本机制是非常动态的。它与其他产生模式的动态系统有很多共同点，例如形成大型沙丘的风沙系统，或形成复杂支流的雨水和侵蚀系统？埃德河系统。在其他贝壳上，其基本机制与流行病传播中常见的波浪有很多共同点。软体动物只能在壳边缘扩大其壳。在大多数情况下，只有在这个边缘才添加色素沉着图案的新元素。因此，贝壳图案保留了在生长边缘的狭窄区域中随时间发生的过程的记录。贝壳上的某个点代表了其历史上的某个时刻。就像时光机一样，只要来回转动外壳，就可以进入过去或未来。拥有这份完整的历史记录，为解读这种美丽背后的一般原理提供了可能性。
The pigment patterns on tropical shells are of great beauty and diversity. Their mixture of regularity and irregularity is fascinating. A particular pattern seems to follow particular rules but these rules allow variations. No two shells are identical. The motionless patterns appear to be static, and, indeed, they consist of calci? ed material. However, as will be shown in this book, the underlying mechanism that generates this beauty is eminently dynamic. It has much in common with other dynamic systems that generate patterns, such as a wind-sand system that forms large dunes, or rain and erosion that form complex rami? ed river systems. On other shells the underlying mechanism has much in common with waves such as those commonly observed in the spread of an epidemic. A mollusk can only enlarge its shell at the shell margin. In most cases, only at this margin are new elements of the pigmentation pattern added. Therefore, the shell pattern preserves the record of a process that took place over time in a narrow zone at the growing edge. A certain point on the shell represents a certain moment in its history. Like a time machine one can go into the past or the future just by turning the shell back and forth. Having this complete historical record opens the possibility of decoding the generic principles behind this beauty.