Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Precipitation of aragonite by calcitic bivalves in Mg-enriched marine waters

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To understand the relative importance of biological versus physicochemical control over biomineralization, we have tested if the chemical composition of the medium (i.e., the Mg/Ca ratio) can change the mineralogy of mollusk shells. The shells of mollusks are made of calcite and/or aragonite, which are by far the most common CaCO3 polymorphs. Several species of bivalves with predominantly calcitic shells have been cultivated in artificial seawater with a Mg/Ca molar ratio within the range of 8.3–9.2, well above the present value for seawater (5.2). Four out of six species used (the scallop Chlamys varia, the oyster Ostrea edulis, the saddle oyster Anomia ephippium and the mussel Mytilus edulis) survived long enough to secrete significant amounts of calcium carbonate. The deposits (sometimes extensive) formed on the interior shell surfaces were predominantly aragonitic. Three individuals of C. varia also increased their length by adding new shell at the margin. Contrary to the internal shell deposits, these margins were high-Mg calcite. This implies that the marginal mantle is able to exert a more strict control on the secreted mineral phase than the mantle facing the internal shell surface. This is the first report on an in vivo experimentally forced switch in bivalve shell mineralogy, from calcite to aragonite due to a change in water chemistry.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Addadi L, Moradian J, Shay E, Maroudas NG, Weiner S (1987) A chemical-model for the cooperation of sulfates and carboxylates in calcite crystal nucleation-model for the cooperation of sulfates and carboxylates in calcite crystal nucleation- relevance to biomineralization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:2732–2736

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Addadi L, Weiner S (1992) Control and design principles in biological mineralization. Angew Chem 31:153–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belcher AM, Wu XH, Christensen RJ, Hansma PK, Stucky GD, Morse DE (1996) Control of crystal phase switching and orientation by soluble mollusc-shell proteins. Nature 381:56–58; DOI 10.1038/381056a0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berner RA (1975) The role of magnesium in the cristal growth of calcite and aragonite from seawater. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 39:489–504; DOI 10.1016/0016-7037(75)90102-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bischoff JL, Fyfe WS (1968) Catalysis, inhibition and the calcite-aragonite problem. I. The aragonite-calcite transformation. Am J Sci 266:65–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter JG, Barrera E, Tevesz MJS (1998) Termal potentiation and mineralogical evolution in the Bivalvia (Mollusca). J Paleontol 72:991–1010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deleuze M, Brantley S (1997) Inhibition of calcite crystal growth by Mg2+ at 100°C and 100 bars: influence of growth regime. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 61:1475–1485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dodd JR (1964) Environmentally controlled variation in the shell structure of a pelecypod species. J Paleontol 38:1065–1071

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodd JR (1966) The influence of salinity on mollusk shell mineralogy: a discussion. J Geol 74:85–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisma D (1966) The influence of salinity on mollusc shell mineralogy: a discussion. J Geol 74:89–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falini G, Albeck S, Weiner S, Addadi L (1996) Control of aragonite polymorphism by mollusc shell macromolecules. Science 271:67–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falini G (2000) Crystallization of calcium carbonates in biologically inspired collagenous matrices. Int J Inorg Mater 2:455–461

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feigl F, Anger V (1972) Spot tests in inorganic analysis. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallock P (1997) Reef and reef limestones in Earth history. In: Birkeland C (ed) Life and death of coral reefs. Chapman and Hall, New York, pp 13–42

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hardie LA (1996) Secular variation is seawater chemistry: an explanation for the coupled secular variation in the mineralogies of marine limestones and potash evaporates over the past 600 m.y. Geology 24:279–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harper EM, Palmer TJ, Alphey JR (1997) Evolutionary response by bivalves to changing Phanerozoic seawater chemistry. Geol Mag 134:403–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez-López C, Romanek CS, Huertas FJ, Ohmoto H, Caballero E (2004) Oxygen isotope fractionation in synthetic magnesian calcite. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 68:3367–3377; DOI 10.1016/j.gca.2003.11.033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitano Y, Kanamori N (1966) Synthesis of magnesium calcite at low temperaturas and pressures. Geochem J 1:1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lippmann F (1973) Sedimentary carbonate minerals. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lorens RB, Bender ML (1980) The impact of solution chemistry on Mytilus edulis calcite and aragonite. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 44:1265–1278; DOI 10.1016/0016-7037(80)900873

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowenstam HA (1954a) Environmental relations of modification compositions of certain carbonate secreting marine invertebrates. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 40:39–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowenstam HA (1954b) Factors affecting the aragonite-calcite ratios in carbonate-secreting marine organisms. J Geol 62:284–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie FT, Piggot JD (1981) Tectonic control of Phanerozoic sedimentary rock cycling. J Geol Soc Lond 138:183–196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie FT, Morse JW (1992) Sedimentary carbonates through Phanerozoic time. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 56:32813295; DOI 10.1016/0016-7037(92)90305-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manoli F, Koutsopoulos S, Dalas E (1997) Crystallization of calcite on chitin. J Cryst Growth 182:116–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morse JW, Wang Q, Tsio MY (1997) Influences of temperature and Mg:Ca ratio on CaCO3 precipitates from seawater. Geology 25:85–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mucci A, Morse JW (1983) The incorporation of Mg+2 and Sr+2 into calcite overgrowths: influences of growth rate and solution composition. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 47:217–233; DOI 10.1016/0016-7037(83)90135-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reddy MM, Wang KK (1980) Crystallization of calcium carbonate in the presence of metal ions: I. Inhibition by magnesium ion at pH 8.8 and 25°C. J Cryst Growth 50:470–480; DOI 10-1016/0022-0248(80)90095-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ries JB (2005) Aragonite production in calcite seas: effect of seawater Mg/Ca ratio on the calcification and growth of the calcareous alga Penicillus capitatus. Paleobiology 31:445–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg PA (1975) New interpretations of Great Salt Lake ooids and of ancient nonskeletal carbonate mineralogy. Sedimentology 22:497–538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg PA (1983) An oscillating trend in Phanerozoic nonskeletal carbonate mineralogy. Nature 305:19–22; DOI 10.1038/305019a0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley SM, Hardie LA (1998) Secular oscillations in the carbonate mineralogy of reef-building and sediment-producing organisms driven by tectonically forced shifts in seawater chemistry. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 144:3–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley SM, Ries JB, Hardie LA (2002) Low magnesium calcite produced by coralline algae in seawater of late cretaceous composition. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99:15323–15326; DOI 10.1073/pnas.232569499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JD, Kennedy WJ, Hall A (1969) Shell structure and mineralogy of the Bivalvia. Introduction. Nuculacae-Trigonacae. Bull Br Mus Nat Hist Zool 3(Suppl):1–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson JB, Paloczi GT, Kindt JH, Michenfelder M, Smith BL, Stucky G, Morse DE, Hansma PK (2000) Direct observation of the transition from calcite to aragonite growth as induced by abalone shell proteins. Biophys J 79:3307–3312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watabe N, Wilbur KM (1960) Influence of the organic matrix on crystal type in molluscs. Nature 188:334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilbur KM, Saleuddin ASM (1983) Shell formation. In: Saleuddin ASM, Wilbur KM (eds) The mollusca, vol 4, Physiology, part 1. Academic Press, New York, pp 235–287

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson BH (1979) Biomineralization, paleooceanography and the evolution of calcareous marine organisms. Geology 7:524–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson BH, Owen MR, Carroll AR (1985) Submarine hydrothermal weathering, global eustacy, and carbonate polymorphism in Phanerozoic marine oolites. J Sediment Petrol 55:171–183

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Amelia Ocaña and Luis Sánchez-Tocino (Departamento de Biología Animal y Ecología, Universidad de Granada) for aquarium facilities and Juana Cano (Centro Oceanográfico de Fuengirola, Málaga) for providing specimens. Two anonymous reviewers helped to improve the paper through its critical reading. This work was supported by the Spanish–Portuguese Integrated Action HP02-85, the Research Projects BOS2001-3220, CGL2004-00802 and REN2003-07375 (DGI, MEC) and by the Research Group RNM0190 (CICE, JA). C.J.-L. and A.R.-N. also acknowledge financial support through the Programa Ramón y Cajal (MCyT, Spain).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avenida Fuentenueva s/n, 18002, Granada, Spain

    Antonio G. Checa

  2. Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avenida Fuentenueva s/n, 18002, Granada, Spain

    Concepción Jiménez-López

  3. Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Avenida Fuentenueva s/n, 18002, Granada, Spain

    Alejandro Rodríguez-Navarro

  4. Laboratorio de Fisiologia Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de Porto, Largo Profesor Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003, Porto, Portugal

    Jorge P. Machado

Authors
  1. Antonio G. Checa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Concepción Jiménez-López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alejandro Rodríguez-Navarro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jorge P. Machado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio G. Checa.

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Checa, A.G., Jiménez-López, C., Rodríguez-Navarro, A. et al. Precipitation of aragonite by calcitic bivalves in Mg-enriched marine waters. Mar Biol 150, 819–827 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0411-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0411-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation