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A general definition of the term “plastron“ in terrestrial and aquatic arthropods

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Abstract

The term “plastron”, as it applies to terrestrial and aquatic arthropods, has been used in a variety of ways. A generalised and simple definition of this term is provided based on a classification of its structural and functional aspects.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are much obliged to Peter Davie from the Queensland Museum in Brisbane, Australia, Anne Bull as well as two reviewers for very valuable comments and extraordinary help with a former version of the manuscript. Thanks are given to Stephan Borensztajn, Marie Luise Bischoff and Daniela Klein for the pictures of different collembolan species and cuticle structures. The work was financed by the Feldbausch foundation and the Postdoctoral Fellowship of the In-house Research Founding Programme of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz.

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  1. Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Institute of Zoology, Dep. IV, Becherweg 13, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    Michael Thomas Marx

  2. An den Wurthen 4, 17489, Greifswald, Germany

    Benjamin Messner

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Marx, M.T., Messner, B. A general definition of the term “plastron“ in terrestrial and aquatic arthropods. Org Divers Evol 12, 403–408 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-012-0088-0

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