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Multifunctionality of chiton biomineralized armor with an integrated visual system
Li, L.; Connors, M.J.; Kolle, M.; England, G.T.; Speiser, D.I.; Xiao, X.; Aizenberg, J.; Ortiz, C. (2015). Multifunctionality of chiton biomineralized armor with an integrated visual system. Science (Wash.) 350(6263): 952-956. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aad1246
In: Science (Washington). American Association for the Advancement of Science: New York, N.Y. ISSN 0036-8075; e-ISSN 1095-9203, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Acanthopleura granulata (Gmelin, 1791) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Li, L.
  • Connors, M.J.
  • Kolle, M.
  • England, G.T.
  • Speiser, D.I.
  • Xiao, X.
  • Aizenberg, J.
  • Ortiz, C.

Abstract
    Nature provides a multitude of examples of multifunctional structural materials in which trade-offs are imposed by conflicting functional requirements. One such example is the biomineralized armor of the chiton Acanthopleura granulata, which incorporates an integrated sensory system that includes hundreds of eyes with aragonite-based lenses. We use optical experiments to demonstrate that these microscopic lenses are able to form images. Light scattering by the polycrystalline lenses is minimized by the use of relatively large, crystallographically aligned grains. Multiscale mechanical testing reveals that as the size, complexity, and functionality of the integrated sensory elements increase, the local mechanical performance of the armor decreases. However, A. granulata has evolved several strategies to compensate for its mechanical vulnerabilities to form a multipurpose system with co-optimized optical and structural functions.

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