Ultrastructure and mineral distribution in the tergal cuticle of the terrestrial isopod Titanethes albus. Adaptations to a karst cave biotope
Ultrastructure and mineral distribution in the tergal cuticle of the terrestrial isopod Titanethes albus. Adaptations to a karst cave biotope
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jsb.2009.07.017
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发表时间：
2009-12-01
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
Ziegler, Andreas
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hild, Sabine;Neues, Frank;Ziegler, Andreas
等足类角质层内有机和无机物质的组成和空间分布因物种而异。这些变化与动物的行为和栖息地有关。穴居等足类动物Titanethes albus生活在斯洛文尼亚喀斯特完全黑暗的洞穴中。这个栖息地全年提供恒定的温度和饱和湿度以及不稳定的食物供应。这些条件应该导致节肢动物的功能性适应。然而，洞穴节肢动物库的结构和组成的研究很少，缺乏陆生等足类动物。因此，我们分析了terterteropathic角质层的T albus使用透射和场发射电子显微镜，共焦μ-拉曼光谱成像，定量X射线衍射，热重分析和原子吸收光谱。上表皮的超微结构表明对水分流失的抵抗力差。内和外角质层，一个相对较薄的顶端方解石层，几乎缺乏镁的方解石晶格内的有机和矿物相之间的弱互连表明，角质层的机械强度低的洞穴等足类动物。这可能有利于保持高角质层的灵活性和减少代谢消耗。(C)2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Composition and spatial distribution of organic and inorganic materials within the cuticle of isopods vary between species. These variations are related to the behaviour and habitat of the animal. The troglobiotic isopod Titanethes albus lives in the complete darkness of caves in the Slovenian Karst. This habitat provides constant temperature and saturated humidity throughout the year and inconsistent food supply. These conditions should have lead to functional adaptations of arthropod cuticles. However, studies on structure and composition of cave arthropod cuticles are rare and lacking for terrestrial isopods. We therefore analysed the tergite cuticle of T albus using transmission and field-emission electron microscopy, confocal mu-Raman spectroscopic imaging, quantitative X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The ultrastructure of the epicuticle suggests a poor resistance against water loss. A weak interconnection between the organic and mineral phase within the endo- and exocuticle, a comparatively thin apical calcite layer, and almost lack of magnesium within the calcite crystal lattice suggest that the mechanical strength of the cuticle is low in the cave isopod. This may possibly be of advantage in maintaining high cuticle flexibility and reducing metabolic expenditures. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.