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Architecture and material properties of diatom shells provide effective mechanical protection

Nature volume 421, pages 841–843 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

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 cycle1. 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 architecture2 whose function and role, if any, in contributing to the evolutionary success of diatoms is under debate3,4,5. 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.

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Figure 1: Glass needle tests: Live single cells of T. punctigera (a–c) and F. kerguelensis (d–f), in chains (e, f).
Figure 2: Finite element calculations of F. kerguelensis frustules.
Figure 3: Properties of an isolated girdle band.

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Acknowledgements

We thank F. Hinz and R. Crawford for the SEM image of F. kerguelensis. U. Riebesell, D. Wolf-Gladrow, U. Bathmann and R. Crawford provided comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Christian E. Hamm & Victor Smetacek

  2. Technische Universität München, Physics Department (Biophysics Group E22), 85748, Garching, Germany

    Rudolf Merkel, Christian Maier & Kathrin Prechtel

  3. Research Centre Jülich, Institute of Thin Films and Interfaces, 52425, Jülich, Germany

    Rudolf Merkel

  4. Hochschule Bremen – University of Applied Science, Neustadtswall 30, 28199, Bremen, Germany

    Olaf Springer & Piotr Jurkojc

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Correspondence to Christian E. Hamm.

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Hamm, C., Merkel, R., Springer, O. et al. Architecture and material properties of diatom shells provide effective mechanical protection. Nature 421, 841–843 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01416

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