Ultrastructural evolution of conodont skeletal tissues - reconstruction using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD)
Final Report Abstract
Vertebrates are unique in that they have skeletons made of the mineral apatite, which makes them harder and chemically more stable than the mineralized tissues of other organisms. This mineral part of the skeleton can be studied using methods from the material sciences. The orientation and sizes of individual crystal grains can help us reconstruct how the tissue was used in the living organism, e.g. how a tooth was biting and in which direction was it subject to highest stress. This is particularly useful un fossils, where we cannot study their biomechanics experimentally. However, vertebrate tissues have for years evaded such analyses. In this project we identified why they were resistant to in situ analysis of crystal orientations and we developed a protocol that allows consistent sample preparation, measurement of crystal orientations and chemical composition in vertebrate tissues. We studied the teeth of the earliest vertebrates with biomineralized skeletons, conodonts. Across their evolution, we demonstrated that their ultrastructure adapted to the tooth function by increasing the crystal order and aligning the crystals in a way that conveys the highest resistance to stress during biting. The results of the project show that important evolutionary adaptations take place at the nanoscale level. We also opened the possibility to study ultrastructural adaptations in vertebrate skeletons and other sensitive materials.
Publications
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Code for "Increasing control or biomineralization in conodont evolution".
Shirley, B., Leonhard, I., Murdock, D., Repetski, J., Świś, P., Bestmann, M., Trimby, P., Ohl, M., Plümper, O., King, H. & Jarochowska, E.
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Biotic, abiotic, pre-biotic, post-biotic controls on carbonate and phosphate formation. Online talk for SedsOnline
Jarochowska, E.
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Evidence of parallel evolution in the dental elements of Sweetognathus conodonts. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 287, 20201922.
Petryshen, W.; Henderson, C. M.; De Baets, K. & Jarochowska, E.
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nvited keynote speaker, Session Biosediments: Tracking Biogenic Materials and Sedimentation Processes through Time, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, online
Jarochowska, E.
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The cono-dos and cono-dont’s of phosphatic microfossil preparation and microanalysis. Micron, 138, 102924.
Shirley, Bryan; Bestmann, Michel & Jarochowska, Emilia
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Big equipment, tiny structures: A multi-analytical approach to unravelling the conodont conundrum. Online talk for PaleoPercs
Shirley, B.
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Growth and feeding ecology of coniform conodonts. PeerJ, 9, e12505.
Leonhard, Isabella; Shirley, Bryan; Murdock, Duncan J. E.; Repetski, John & Jarochowska, Emilia
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Ordination analysis in sedimentology, geochemistry and palaeoenvironment—Background, current trends and recommendations. The Depositional Record, 7(3), 541-563.
Bialik, Or M.; Jarochowska, Emilia & Grossowicz, Michal
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Palaeozoic stromatoporoid diagenesis: a synthesis. Facies, 67(3).
Kershaw, Stephen; Munnecke, Axel; Jarochowska, Emilia & Young, Graham
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Chemical characterisation is rough: the impact of topography and measurement parameters on energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in biominerals. Facies, 68(2).
Shirley, Bryan & Jarochowska, Emilia
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Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios support trophic partitioning within a Silurian conodont community from Gotland, Sweden. Paleobiology, 48(4), 601-621.
Terrill, David F.; Jarochowska, Emilia; Henderson, Charles M.; Shirley, Bryan & Bremer, Oskar
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Growth allometry and dental topography in Upper Triassic conodonts support trophic differentiation and molar like element function. Paleobiology, 49(4), 665-683.
Kelz, V., Guenser, P., Rigo, M. & Jarochowska, E.
