Publications by authors named "Antje Mewes"

Although the emergence of complex biomineralized forms has been investigated for over a century, still little is known on how single cells control morphology of skeletal structures, such as frustules, shells, spicules, or scales. We have run experiments on the shell formation in foraminifera, unicellular, mainly marine organisms that can build shells by successive additions of chambers. We used live imaging to discover that all stages of chamber/shell formation are controlled by dedicated actin-driven pseudopodial structures.

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Magnesium, incorporated in foraminiferal calcite (Mg/Ca), is used intensively to reconstruct past seawater temperatures but, in addition to temperature, the Mg/Ca of foraminiferal tests also depends on the ratio of Mg and Ca in seawater (Mg/Ca). The physiological mechanisms responsible for these proxy relationships are still unknown. This culture study investigates the impact of different seawater [Mg] on calcification in two benthic foraminiferal species precipitating contrasting Mg/Ca: , producing low-Mg calcite and , producing intermediate-Mg calcite.

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