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Project Progress

A very primitive animal group, the Placozoans (Fig. 1), contain a mineral phase within their structures. It is important to characterize this mineral to discern its function, e.g. waste product, defensive shell material. In order to do so, the mineral will be isolated from the placozoans and prepared for electron microscopy. I conducted a series of electron microscopic studies including SEM with EDS and BSE. SEM with EDS and BSE imaging can narrow down the type of mineral it is. In addition, we may be able to identify any zonation or chemical heterogeneities with x-ray mapping of specific element identified with the EDS spectra. The organisms were cultured and isolated to have the minerals separated from them. This was done by Whitney Hassett in the Gaidos team.

After much difficulty due to samples contaminated with minerals which precipitated from seawater, we were able to determine that the mineral phases in the placozoans is Ca-carbonate. This can be determined by the EDS patterns which shows a dramatic Ca peak and no other peaks above the background. Since the C and O peaks are often absorbed by the detector, we do not expect to see them.

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