Repair and remodelling in the shells of the limpet Patella vulgata

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
M O'NeillDavid Taylor

Abstract

Limpets and other molluscs rely on shells to protect them from physical damage, predation, dehydration, etc. If the shell becomes damaged, this may significantly impair its function. In this work, experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of damage on the strength of shells of the common limpet (Patella vulgata) and their ability to repair this damage effectively. Shells were damaged in three ways: (i) low-energy impacts; (ii) abrasion of the outer layer; and (iii) creation of a small hole in the apex of the shell. Shells were left to repair for several time periods (0, 10, 30 and 60 days). The mechanical strength was evaluated by impacting the shells with a weight dropped from a known height. The damage reduced the strength (defined as impact energy to failure) by 50-70% depending on damage type. After 60 days, limpets in all three groups had repaired their shells significantly, bringing their strength to 79-91% of the control value (in each case, samples were statistically indistinguishable from their control counterparts). Measurements of the thickness of the shell at the apex suggest that the main effect of low-energy impact and abrasion is reduction in thickness, which correlates linearly with the impact energ...Continue Reading

References

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Mar 19, 2013·Global Change Biology·Melody S ClarkEva E R Philipp
Apr 8, 2016·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Eoin ParleDavid Taylor
Nov 2, 2016·The Journal of Experimental Biology·David Taylor

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Citations

May 29, 2020·The Journal of Experimental Biology·R L Crane, M W Denny
Oct 15, 2021·The Journal of Experimental Biology·R L CraneM W Denny

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