Diploneis serrata (Bacillariophyceae): The use of structural mechanistic analysis to resolve morphological classification and molecular identification of a new record diatom species from Kenting, Taiwan

Abstract

We demonstrated the use of the OpenSees framework for structural and geotechnical system simulations (National Science Foundation-Pacific Earthquake Engineering Center-PEER) and the ABAQUS software for finite element analysis to infer the performance of the cell valve in the diatom Diploneis serrata (the strength and stiffness of the cell wall's valve interstriae) under sheer and normal loads. The visualization of finite element analysis together with ultrastructural microscopic studies, both morphological and molecular (using 18S rDNA markers) helped us to resolve and classify the diatom Diploneis serrata collected from a microcosm made of intertidal submerged benthic shore rocks from Kenting National Park, Taiwan. The neat equilateral triangle pattern of the areolae in D. serrata allow us to construct a physical description of the striae structure. Based on the unique triangular areola in D. serrata, the structure of different areola shapes was simulated, and the difference in structural stability was discussed. The result shows the triangular areolae subjected to shear loads provided significantly larger stiffness and strength we deduce as a structural reinforcement strategy against predation. Based on the strength of the physical simulation structure, we attempt further to infer the possible evolutionary and environmental adaptation significance of the areola arrangement pattern. This line of thinking may help resolve difficult taxa within the diatoms, a task that could aide their use as ecological biomarkers in field observations.