We report a unique shell margin that differed from the usual shell structure of Pinctada fucata.We observed empty organic envelopes in the prismatic layer and the formation of the nacreous layer in the shell margin.Al...We report a unique shell margin that differed from the usual shell structure of Pinctada fucata.We observed empty organic envelopes in the prismatic layer and the formation of the nacreous layer in the shell margin.All the characteristics of the growing margin indicated that the shell was growing rapidly.To explain this anomaly,we propose the concept of "jumping development".During jumping development,the center of growth in the bivalve shell jumps forward over a short time interval when the position of the mantle changes.Jumping development explains the unusual structure of the anomalous shell and the development of annual growth lines in typical shells.Annual growth lines are the result of a discontinuity in the shell microstructure induced by jumping development.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U0831001 and 40876068)the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2010CB126405 and 2010AA09Z405)
文摘We report a unique shell margin that differed from the usual shell structure of Pinctada fucata.We observed empty organic envelopes in the prismatic layer and the formation of the nacreous layer in the shell margin.All the characteristics of the growing margin indicated that the shell was growing rapidly.To explain this anomaly,we propose the concept of "jumping development".During jumping development,the center of growth in the bivalve shell jumps forward over a short time interval when the position of the mantle changes.Jumping development explains the unusual structure of the anomalous shell and the development of annual growth lines in typical shells.Annual growth lines are the result of a discontinuity in the shell microstructure induced by jumping development.
