Figure 11

Crystallization of larval shells synthesized in the presence of NikkomycinZ. Polarized light video microscopy in vivo study of mollusc larvae. Note that the observed colours cannot be assigned purely to the birefringence of the shell as larval shells are usually transparent at the investigated developmental stages. The dynamics of the larval tissue also causes light scattering. Thus, alterations of the birefringence pattern have to be taken into account. a. Almost no birefringence was observed in a 2 day old organism, which is consistent with a high fraction of amorphous calcium carbonate in the shell (Prodissoconch I). b. A normally developed larva at the age of 5 days is shown. In general, the prodissoconch II contains a higher fraction of crystalline shell material and is therefore more birefringent than a two day old larva. The characteristic dark cross indicates a radial arrangement of the aragonite crystals. c. 5 day old larva grown in presence of NikkomycinZ for three days. Here, the shell is too small in comparison to the organism. The characteristic dark cross is visible (arrowheads). The intensity of the birefringence is higher compared to the control organism shown in (b). d. 5 day old larva grown in presence of NikkomycinZ for three days. This individual is representative for larval shells that appeared well developed in bright field microscopy. Crossed polarizer images revealed that such larval shells often exhibit a "split-up" dark cross (arrowheads). e. NikkomycinZ treated 5 day old larva with a curved hinge (see dotted straight line next to the hinge for comparison). The dark cross appears sharper than that of untreated larva in (b). NikkomycinZ treated larvae appear in general more birefringent. Note also the comparably smaller shell size of the NikkomycinZ treated larvae (c-e).