The cuticular portion of the tardigrade feeding apparatus is a complex structure that can be schematically divided into four parts: a buccal ring, a buccal tube, a stylet system (formed by two piercing stylets, each within a stylet coat, and two stylet supports), and the lining of a myoepithelial sucking pharynx. To better understand the function and evolution of the feeding apparatus, the morpho-functional traits and chemical composition of the structures forming the feeding apparatuses of eight different species of tardigrades were analyzed. These eight species are representative of almost all main phylogenetic lineages of the phylum. The calcium and chitin in the feeding apparatus were examined by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Raman microspectroscopy (Raman). In all species, the feeding apparatus had been subjected to biomineralization due to CaCO3 encrustations organized in the crystalline form of aragonite. Aragonite and chitin are present in different concentrations in the feeding apparatus according to the structures and species considered. Generally, where the structures are rigid there is more aragonite than chitin, and vice versa. The buccal tube and piercing stylets are rich in calcium, with the piercing stylets apparently composed exclusively of aragonite. In eutardigrades, chitin is in higher concentration in the structures subject to higher mechanical stresses, such as the crests of the buccal crown and the condyles of the stylet furca.

Distribution of Calcium and Chitin in the Tardigrade Feeding Apparatus in Relation to its Function and Morphology / Guidetti, Roberto; Bonifacio, Alois; Altiero, Tiziana; Bertolani, Roberto; Rebecchi, Lorena. - In: INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY. - ISSN 1540-7063. - STAMPA. - 55:2(2015), pp. 241-252. [10.1093/icb/icv008]

Distribution of Calcium and Chitin in the Tardigrade Feeding Apparatus in Relation to its Function and Morphology

GUIDETTI, Roberto;ALTIERO, Tiziana;BERTOLANI, Roberto;REBECCHI, Lorena
2015

Abstract

The cuticular portion of the tardigrade feeding apparatus is a complex structure that can be schematically divided into four parts: a buccal ring, a buccal tube, a stylet system (formed by two piercing stylets, each within a stylet coat, and two stylet supports), and the lining of a myoepithelial sucking pharynx. To better understand the function and evolution of the feeding apparatus, the morpho-functional traits and chemical composition of the structures forming the feeding apparatuses of eight different species of tardigrades were analyzed. These eight species are representative of almost all main phylogenetic lineages of the phylum. The calcium and chitin in the feeding apparatus were examined by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Raman microspectroscopy (Raman). In all species, the feeding apparatus had been subjected to biomineralization due to CaCO3 encrustations organized in the crystalline form of aragonite. Aragonite and chitin are present in different concentrations in the feeding apparatus according to the structures and species considered. Generally, where the structures are rigid there is more aragonite than chitin, and vice versa. The buccal tube and piercing stylets are rich in calcium, with the piercing stylets apparently composed exclusively of aragonite. In eutardigrades, chitin is in higher concentration in the structures subject to higher mechanical stresses, such as the crests of the buccal crown and the condyles of the stylet furca.
2015
8-apr-2015
55
2
241
252
Distribution of Calcium and Chitin in the Tardigrade Feeding Apparatus in Relation to its Function and Morphology / Guidetti, Roberto; Bonifacio, Alois; Altiero, Tiziana; Bertolani, Roberto; Rebecchi, Lorena. - In: INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY. - ISSN 1540-7063. - STAMPA. - 55:2(2015), pp. 241-252. [10.1093/icb/icv008]
Guidetti, Roberto; Bonifacio, Alois; Altiero, Tiziana; Bertolani, Roberto; Rebecchi, Lorena
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
icv008.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipologia: Versione pubblicata dall'editore
Dimensione 1.11 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.11 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1070788
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 3
  • Scopus 16
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 16
social impact