Physical properties and structure of aquatic silk fiber from Stenopsyche marmorata

Tsukada, Masaru; Khan, Mohammad; Inoue, Eiso; Kimura, Goro; Hun, Jin Young; Mishima, Mitsuharu; Hirabayashi, Kimio

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2009.10.003

Cited by 24 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In addition, drought conditions have been shown to drive shifts in species interactions, availability of food resources, and adaptations for surviving low flow conditions (Peterson, 1987;Lake, 2003). The glands that produce caddisfly silk can show differences in tensile strength and elongation potential in wet and dry states (Tsukada et al, 2010), but we detected minimal differences in silk thread characteristics under wet versus dry conditions in this study. Free-living caddisfly populations are particularly sensitive to drought conditions and typically recruit poorly the year after drought (Boulton, 2003).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

Resilience of aquatic net‐spinning caddisfly silk structures to common global stressors

Albertson

Daniels

2016

Freshwater Biology

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Summary Two of the most common consequences resulting from land use and climate change are increased fine sediment loads and shifts in hydrological regimes in freshwater ecosystems. Although a growing number of studies indicate that these stressors are likely to directly affect community composition and organism physiology, little is known about how biological structures produced by aquatic organisms might respond. For example, hydropsychid caddisflies (Trichoptera) are a group of globally distributed aquatic insects that spin silk mesh nets that they use to filter feed. These silk mesh nets are important ecosystem engineering structures in flowing waters that can regulate sediment erosion, food particle delivery by altering near‐bed current velocities, and enhance habitat availability for other macroinvertebrates. We conducted two experiments in laboratory mesocosms to assess the effects of increased fine sediment and drought on hydropsychid caddisfly silk. We compared silk thread diameter, thread count, mesh pore area, and thread tensile strength across treatments in which the silk nets were exposed to high levels of total suspended solids or to stream drying over 2 weeks. We found that caddisfly silk was resilient to both forms of stress and maintained its overall structure and tensile strength. Our findings indicate that biological silk structures may be viable ecosystem engineering tools following short‐lived disturbances associated with increased sediment loads and drying events. Caddisfly silk may be resilient to various forms of environmental change, with important consequences for recovery of aquatic communities.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

Resilience of aquatic net‐spinning caddisfly silk structures to common global stressors

Albertson

Daniels

2016

Freshwater Biology

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“…The presence of water can greatly reduce T g as water is a known plasticizer and promotes molecular mobility (Sperling, 2005). Not surprisingly, many invertebrate silks, such as silkworm cocoon silk (P erez-Rigueiro et al, 2000;Plaza et al, 2008), lacewing silk egg stalks (Bauer et al, 2012), caddisfly net silk (Tsukada et al, 2010) and various spider silks (Gosline, Denny & DeMont, 1984;Shao, Young & Vollrath, 1999) as well as mussel byssus (Smeathers & Vincent, 1979;Troncoso, Torres & Grande, 2008), become rubberized when exposed to water, as stiffness (Young's modulus) is reduced and extensibility (breaking strain) is increased. This softening effect is believed to be the result of water molecules disrupting intermolecular hydrogen bonds (Termonia, 1994;Bauer et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Humidity‐dependent mechanical and adhesive properties of Arachnocampa tasmaniensis capture threads

et al. 2018

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Bioluminescent glow‐worms (Arachnocampa spp.) capture prey in glue‐coated silk capture threads hung from their nests on damp cave and wet forest substrates. In a dry environment, these animals are very susceptible to desiccation as their bodies can become life threateningly dry and their silk has been anecdotally observed to become non‐sticky. Water has a plasticizing effect on the structural proteins of several invertebrate silks, including those used in caddisfly nets, mussel byssus and spider webs. Moreover, water facilitates interfacial adhesion by spreading adhesive biomolecules in functionally analogous velvet worm slime and spider silk glue. We tested the effects of water on the mechanics and adhesion of Arachnocampa tasmaniensis capture threads sampled within damp caves. We found that threads tested at high humidity were three times more compliant and over 10‐fold more extensible than those tested at low humidity (30% RH). We also found the threads to be significantly more adhesive in high humidity with force at detachment increasing two orders of magnitude and work of adhesion increasing by five orders of magnitude compared to threads tested at low humidity. Our results unequivocally demonstrate that A. tasmaniensis capture thread functionality is dependent upon exposure to high humidity. Our results both confirm previous reports and indicate that the foraging habitat of these animals is restricted to caves and cave‐like environments, such as wet forests.

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“…honeybees, crickets, ants, hornets, lacewings, silverfish, caddis flies and chironomid midges (Weisman et al, 2008;Sehnal and Sutherland, 2008;Sutherland et al 2010;Walker et al, 2012;Sutherland et al, 2011). In the purview of aquatic silks spun underwater, the retreat maker caddisworms (Stewart and Wang 2010;Tsukada et al, 2010;Ohkawa et al, 2014;Ashton et al, 2016) and larval chironomid midges (Grossbach, 1977;Hertner et al, 1980;Wellman and Case, 1989;Case et al, 1994) have exhibited how habitats influence the nature, composition and properties of silk. This review focusses on the underexplored silk-spinning expertise and the little known physiological biochemistry of silk protein produced by Chironomus larvae.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic silk proteins in Chironomus: A review

Thorat

Nath

2018

J Limnol

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Silk proteins secreted by salivary glands in the dipteran insect, Chironomus play a significant role as proteinaceous adhesives for construction of underwater housing nests by larvae. To date, only three Chironomus species, C. tentans Fabricius, C. pallidivittatus Malloch and C. riparius Meigen have been explored for characterization of their aquatic silk protein. Genes coding for silk proteins are located on specific chromosomal 'puffs' called Balbiani rings as well as non-Balbiani ring regions. Expression of these genes is closely regulated by developmental and hormonal alterations and environmental factors. Furthermore, pilot studies have postulated that silk proteins probably occur in diverse size classes grouped into large (~1000 kDa), intermediate (100-200 kDa) and small (≤100 kDa). Barring few preliminary reports that date back to the 1990s, the physical and bioproperties of silk from chironomid midges remain largely unknown, leading to paucity of updated information. This review was therefore aimed to compile existing literature database and to highlight the wide possibilities for commercialization of midge larval silk as a novel biopolymer.

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Physical properties and structure of aquatic silk fiber from Stenopsyche marmorata

Cited by 24 publications

References 15 publications

Resilience of aquatic net‐spinning caddisfly silk structures to common global stressors

Resilience of aquatic net‐spinning caddisfly silk structures to common global stressors

Humidity‐dependent mechanical and adhesive properties of Arachnocampa tasmaniensis capture threads

Aquatic silk proteins in Chironomus: A review

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