Structure of a hinge joint with textured sliding surfaces in terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea)

Vittori, Miloš (avtor)

Background: The study of joints in terrestrial arthropods can provide insights into the evolutionary optimization of contacting surfaces that slide without lubrication. This work reports on the structure of the joint between the propodus and the dactylus in terrestrial isopods, the most successful group of crustaceans on land, focusing on the woodlouse Porcellio scaber. Methods: The joints were studied using fluorescence microscopy, 3D reconstruction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The obtained results were functionally interpreted using high-speed video recordings by analyzing the use of the joint during locomotion. Results: In the joint, which allows the dactylus to move in a single plain, a semicircular process on the propodus fits into a groove on the dactylus and guides its movement. The sliding surfaces of the propodal process are textured in the form of parallel epicuticular ridges a few hundred nanometers thick. This texturing is selective: while the less heavily loaded surfaces are textured, the surfaces that support the isopod during standing and walking are smooth. In contrast, the groove on the dactylus is completely smooth. We found a similar surface texture in several other species of terrestrial isopods and one aquatic isopod. Conclusions: The selective texturing of the joint may reduce wear by eliminating small particles. This effect of the ridges was confirmed using electron microscopy. The absence of ridges on heavily loaded surfaces may enhance the dissipation of forces in these regions.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: woodlouse, tribology, cuticle, exoskeleton, crustacean, ultrastructure
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2021
• Št. strani: 12 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 7, art. 7
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-127223
• UDK: 591.1
• ISSN pri članku: 2056-306X
• DOI: 10.1186/s40851-021-00177-9
• COBISS.SI-ID: 63078147
• Datum objave v RUL: 26.05.2021

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Zoological letters
• Skrajšan naslov: Zoological lett.
• Založnik: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 2056-306X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 525082905

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Projekti

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P1-0184
• Naslov: Integrativna zoologija in speleobiologija