Hyperaccumulation of Elements in Marine Organisms

High accumulation of iron by teeth of mollusks

Mollusks have a feeding organ, called the radula. Each tooth consists of a basal plate attached to the radula membrane and an erect cusp. Some iron minerals like magnetite, geothite and lepidcrocite are contained in teeth of chitons and limpets.
Many biologists and chemists are studying the process of biomineralization. But, the crystallization mechanism of iron compounds remains unknown. A chiton Acanthopleura loochooana keeps still in a hollow of the rock in an intertidal zone during the day time. At night, this species move on the rock for feeding microalgae.

A. loochooana

Its radula (Arrow = lateral tooth)

Distribution of Fe in a lateral tooth of A. loochooana

ref: Distribution of Fe in lateral tooth of a limpet Acmaea pallida

Micro-Raman spectroscopy shows that magnetite (Fe3O4) is contained in a postrior side of the tooth. Geothite (α-FeO・OH) and lepidcrocite (γ-FeO・OH) exist in an anterior side.

｜High accumulation of metals by Bryopsis maxima｜High accumulation of vanadium by a fan worm Pseudopotamilla occelata｜
｜ High accumulation of manganese by a giant clam Tridacna squamosa｜
｜High accumulation of manganese by a marine bivalve Cyclosunetta menstrualis｜High accumulaton of iodine by a strawberry conch shell Strombus luhuanus｜
｜ High accumulation of iron by teeth of mollusks｜High accumulation of metals by an octopus Octopus vulgaris｜

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