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Echinoderms: Hierarchically Organized Light Weight Skeletons

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Evolution of Lightweight Structures

Part of the book series: Biologically-Inspired Systems ((BISY,volume 6))

Abstract

Echinoderm skeletons are described within a hierarchical framework ranging from complete organisms to the ultrastructural level. They consist of numerous elements which can be isolated, connected by soft tissue or locked together in rigid structures. The top level considers skeletons as a whole with all associated elements and the basic symmetry of the echinoderms. The next level deals with the structural analysis and modeling of echinoids with respect to the growth parameters and stress resistance of the corona. The flexibility and movement has also been studied for the stalks and arms of recent and fossil crinoids. The next level deals with the elaborate morphology and types of symmetry found in single skeletal elements. The numerous types of stereom architectures found within the elements of all echinoderms are highly correlated to specific functions. A high number of recent studies concern the last hierarchical level on ultrastructure and biomineralization. Lightweight aspects of the skeleton are especially present at the level of conjoined plates, single elements and the stereom.

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Acknowledgments

Funding provided by the Stiftung Baden-Württemberg, the DAAD and the German Science Foundation (DFG Project NE 537/24-1). Macroscopic photographs by Wolfgang Gerber, Tübingen. REM images of Figs. 8.5 and 8.6 by Susanne Leidenroth, SMNS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Sigwartstrasse 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    James H. Nebelsick

  2. Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History, Stuttgart Rosenstein 1, 70191, Stuttgart, Germany

    Janina F. Dynowski

  3. Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Hölderlinstrasse 12, 72074, Tübingen, Germany

    Janina F. Dynowski

  4. Institute of Zoology, Graduate Program: Bionics-Interactions across Boundaries to the Environment, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 169, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Jan Nils Grossmann

  5. Zentrum für Wissenschafts- und Technologietransfer, Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, University of Applied Sciences, Grantham Allee, 20, 53757, Sankt Augustin, Germany

    Jan Nils Grossmann

  6. Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin for Materials and Energy, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, 14109, Berlin, Germany

    Christian Tötzke

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Correspondence to James H. Nebelsick .

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  1. Functional Morphology, Evolution and Lig, Alfred Wegener Institut Helmholtz Zentru, Bremerhave, Germany

    Christian Hamm

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Nebelsick, J., Dynowski, J., Grossmann, J., Tötzke, C. (2015). Echinoderms: Hierarchically Organized Light Weight Skeletons. In: Hamm, C. (eds) Evolution of Lightweight Structures. Biologically-Inspired Systems, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9398-8_8

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