THE COMPOSITION OF PHOSPHATE GRANULES IN THE DIGESTIVE GLANDS OF MARINE PROSOBRANCH GASTROPODS - VARIATION IN RELATION TO TAXONOMY

Citation
Pe. Gibbs et al., THE COMPOSITION OF PHOSPHATE GRANULES IN THE DIGESTIVE GLANDS OF MARINE PROSOBRANCH GASTROPODS - VARIATION IN RELATION TO TAXONOMY, Journal of molluscan studies, 64, 1998, pp. 423-433
Citations number
40
Categorie Soggetti
Zoology,"Marine & Freshwater Biology
ISSN journal
02601230
Volume
64
Year of publication
1998
Part
4
Pages
423 - 433
Database
ISI
SICI code
0260-1230(1998)64:<423:TCOPGI>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
The composition of some 1150 phosphate granules in the digestive gland s of over 40 species of marine prosobranch gastropods has been surveye d using a simple preparation technique and semiquantitative SEM x-ray microanalysis. Spectral peaks for Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe and Zn were compar ed to that of P. Four major types of phosphate granule can be recognis ed, each generally characteristic of a taxonomic grouping: high Mg in archaeogastropods and littorinids, multiple metal in higher mesogastro pods, and, in neogastropods, Mg-Ca in muricoideans and high Zn in bucc inoideans. At least one Conus species (C. ventricosus) has high-Mg gra nules. Some causes of variation in granule composition are discussed: speculatively, it is suggested a palaeoenvironmental influence seems p ossible.