Abstract
A scanning electron microscopy study of organic sheets in serpulid tube mineral structures was carried out to discern their function, formation and evolution. The organic sheets may have some taxonomic value in distinguishing the two major clades of serpulids previously identified. The organic sheets in the mineral tube structure occur only in certain taxa belonging to clade A, but not all species in clade A have them. Organic sheets are best developed in genus Spirobranchus. One could speculate that organic sheets have evolved as an adaption to further strengthen the mechanical properties of the tubes in clade A, which contains serpulids with the most advanced mineral tube microstructures. The organic sheets are presumably secreted with at least some mineral phase.
Highlights
Serpulids are marine polychaete tubeworms that dwell in all latitudinal and depth zones of the ocean [1]
Organic sheets occur only in serpulids belonging to clade A, while species of clade B have no organic sheets in their mineral tube structures
In some species (Crucigera websteri, Floriprotis sabiuraensis) organic sheets are more common in the inner part of the tube wall
Summary
Serpulids are marine polychaete tubeworms that dwell in all latitudinal and depth zones of the ocean [1]. Serpulids are the only polychaete tubeworms with exclusively calcareous tubes. They have a long evolutionary history from the Middle Triassic to the Recent [2]. Especially in the temperate seas where they construct small reefs [3,4]. They are vulnerable to the ongoing modern ocean acidification [4,5]. Serpulids form two major clades that have characteristic microstructural complexities. Either simple or complex, occur only in one clade (A) of serpulids, while isotropic microstructures are found in both clades (A and B) [9]
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