Author, as appears in the article.: Krings W; Marcé-Nogué J; Karabacak H; Glaubrecht M; Gorb SN

Department: Enginyeria Mecànica

URV's Author/s: Marcé Nogué, Jordi

Keywords: Radula Mechanical properties Gastropoda Functional morphology Fea mechanical properties gastropoda functional morphology fea

Abstract: © 2020 Molluscs are a highly successful group of invertebrates characterised by a specialised feeding organ called the radula. The diversity of this structure is associated with distinct feeding strategies and ecological niches. However, the precise function of the radula (each tooth type and their arrangement) remains poorly understood. Here for the first time, we use a quantitative approach, Finite-Element-Analysis (FEA), to test hypotheses regarding the function of particular taenioglossan tooth types. Taenioglossan radulae are of special interest, because they are comprised of multiple teeth that are regionally distinct in their morphology. For this study we choose the freshwater gastropod species Spekia zonata, endemic to Lake Tanganyika, inhabiting and feeding on algae attached to rocks. As a member of the African paludomid species flock, the enigmatic origin and evolutionary relationships of this species has received much attention. Its chitinous radula comprises several tooth types with distinctly different shapes. We characterise the tooth's position, material properties and attachment to the radular membrane and use this data to evaluate 18 possible FEA scenarios differing in the above parameters. Our estimations of stress and strain indicate different functional loads for different teeth. We posit that the central and lateral teeth are best suitable for scratching substrate loosening ingesta, whereas the marginals are best suited for gathering food particles. Our successful approach and workflow are readily applicable to other mollusc species.

Thematic Areas: Saúde coletiva Química Odontología Molecular biology Medicine (miscellaneous) Medicina veterinaria Medicina iii Medicina i Materials science, biomaterials Materiais Interdisciplinar General medicine Farmacia Engineering, biomedical Engenharias iv Engenharias iii Engenharias ii Engenharias i Ciências biológicas ii Ciências biológicas i Biotecnología Biotechnology Biomedical engineering Biomaterials Biodiversidade Biochemistry Astronomia / física Arquitetura e urbanismo

ISSN: 17427061

Author's mail: jordi.marce@urv.cat

Author identifier: 0000-0001-9852-7027

Record's date: 2022-07-10

Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersion

Link to the original source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1742706120304943

Licence document URL: http://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/

Papper original source: Acta Biomaterialia. 115 317-332

APA: Krings W; Marcé-Nogué J; Karabacak H; Glaubrecht M; Gorb SN (2020). Finite element analysis of individual taenioglossan radular teeth (Mollusca). Acta Biomaterialia, 115(), 317-332. DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.08.034

Article's DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.08.034

Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Journal publication year: 2020

Publication Type: Journal Publications