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The formation of apatite from crab faecal pellets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

K. Simkiss  and
M.G. Taylor
K. Simkiss
Affiliation:
Department of Pure & Applied Zoology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 2AJ
M.G. Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Pure & Applied Zoology, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 2AJ
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Abstract

Intracellular granules have been isolated from the digestive gland of the shore crab Carcinus maenas (L.). These granules are normally shed from this tissue during the digestive cycle and are shown to occur in considerable numbers in the faecal strands. The granules are amorphous to x-ray diffraction and remain in this state in sea-water for several weeks, although they will transform into crystalline apatite in simpler saline solutions. The fate of these deposits in the marine environment is discussed in relation to their contribution to sediments and phosphorites.

Type
Short Communications
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 74 , Issue 2 , May 1994 , pp. 459 - 462
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1994

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