Work

Mineral Composition of Skeletal Elements in Dorid Nudibranchia Onchidoris muricata (Gastropoda, Mollusca)

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), a standard technique in mineralogy and criminalistics, has not yet been fully incorporated into the study of various biomineral structures of invertebrates, despite the growing popularity of this topic in the last few decades. This is partly due to EDX’s limitations and data interpretation complexities. This study used EDX to analyze the spicules’ elemental composition of nudibranch gastropod mollusk Onchidoris muricata prepared via two methods (sectioning and fracturing). Hierarchical clustering and compositional data analysis of the resulting elemental data revealed three distinct spicule populations with varying element ratios, suggesting spicule transformation pathways. Two of the three clusters had a uniform layered microstructure, yet they showed reliable differences in element ratios. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the spicules’ calcite or magnesian–calcite composition. EDX analysis of spicule sections, coupled with other analytical techniques, revealed mineral structure transformations and provided insights into the biomineral nature. The sample preparation method with epoxy-embedding, preserving surrounding tissues in their active state, allowed for the analysis of tissue elemental composition and the elucidation of their role in mineralization.

Source: Biomimetics

DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics10040211

Authors: Dmitry A. Ozerov, Ekaterina D. Nikitenko, Alexey A. Piryazev, Andrey I. Lavrov, Elena V. Vortsepneva

Institutions: Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics

Language: English

Topic: Calcium Carbonate Crystallization and Inhibition

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,654

Funder: Russian Science Foundation