Microstructures, crystallography and growth patterns of serpulid tubeworms (Class Polychaeta)
Abstract
Serpulid polychaetes are marine worms that secrete calcium carbonate tubes in which they live. Despite extensive previous research on their microstructures, there are no crystallographic data and their biomineralization process remains unclear. Here, the microstructures of the tubes of seven serpulid species were studied, including their chemical composition, mineralogy and crystallography, using X-ray diffraction, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, focused ion beam, electron backscatter diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Generally, serpulid tubes have a high amount of organic matter (~ 7.5 wt%), consisting of chitin and proteins, and the calcite is always present as medium to high magnesium calcite. Three main microstructures were identified: granular-prismatic and lamello-fibrillar calcite, and fibrous aragonite. They all displayed an axial texture, which is stronger in the lamello-fibrillar calcite, with the c-axis aligned with the elongation axis of the crystals. These findings demonstrate that only some instances of the granular-prismatic and the lamello-fibrillar calcite are biogenic (primary) microstructures. Conversely, other instances of the granular-prismatic calcite and the fibrous aragonite are a consequence of a recrystallization process (i.e. secondary). Replacement may occur on either primary or secondary calcitic microstructures (replaced by aragonite). Secondary…
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