TY  - JOUR
AU  - Hamm, H. W.
AU  - Merkel, R.
AU  - Springer, O.
AU  - Jurkojc, P.
AU  - Maier, C.
AU  - Prechtel, K.
AU  - Smetacek, V.
TI  - Architecture and material properties of diatom shells provide effective mechanical protection
JO  - Nature 
VL  - 421
SN  - 0028-0836
CY  - London [u.a.]
PB  - Nature Publising Group
M1  - PreJuSER-28257
SP  - 841 - 843
PY  - 2003
N1  - Record converted from VDB: 12.11.2012
AB  - Diatoms are the major contributors to phytoplankton blooms in lakes and in the sea and hence are central in aquatic ecosystems and the global carbon cycle. All free-living diatoms differ from other phytoplankton groups in having silicified cell walls in the form of two 'shells' (the frustule) of manifold shape and intricate architecture whose function and role, if any, in contributing to the evolutionary success of diatoms is under debate. We explored the defence potential of the frustules as armour against predators by measuring their strength. Real and virtual loading tests (using calibrated glass microneedles and finite element analysis) were performed on centric and pennate diatom cells. Here we show that the frustules are remarkably strong by virtue of their architecture and the material properties of the diatom silica. We conclude that diatom frustules have evolved as mechanical protection for the cells because exceptional force is required to break them. The evolutionary arms race between diatoms and their specialized predators will have had considerable influence in structuring pelagic food webs and biogeochemical cycles.
KW  - Animals
KW  - Biomechanics
KW  - Calibration
KW  - Carbon: analysis
KW  - Cell Wall: chemistry
KW  - Cell Wall: physiology
KW  - Diatoms: chemistry
KW  - Diatoms: classification
KW  - Diatoms: cytology
KW  - Diatoms: physiology
KW  - Food Chain
KW  - Glass
KW  - Needles
KW  - Phytoplankton: chemistry
KW  - Phytoplankton: classification
KW  - Phytoplankton: cytology
KW  - Phytoplankton: physiology
KW  - Silicon Dioxide
KW  - Species Specificity
KW  - Carbon (NLM Chemicals)
KW  - Silicon Dioxide (NLM Chemicals)
KW  - J (WoSType)
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
C6  - pmid:12594512
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000181044700047
DO  - DOI:10.1038/nature01416
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/28257
ER  -