The unusual tracheal system within the wing membrane of a dragonfly

Ferreira, Rhainer Guillermo Nascimento; Appel, Esther; Urban, Paulina; Bispo, Pitágoras C.; Gorb, Stanislav N.

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2016.0960

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…For example, the repeated axial symmetry in the cilia of the comb-jellyfish are composed of a central axoneme surrounded by microtubules, which are frequently involved in cilia structures and other cell protrusions [188] (figures 14(F), (G)). Other examples of continuous processes are found among members of the Odonata, who produce a wax pillar forest (with a low degree of order, yet two dimensional) via continuous extrusion through cuticle pores [138,189,190] (figures 14(D), (E)).…”

Section: Biological Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological growth and synthetic fabrication of structurally colored materials

McDougal

Miller

Singh

et al. 2019

J. Opt.

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Nature’s light manipulation strategies—in particular those at the origin of bright iridescent colors—have fascinated humans for centuries. In recent decades, insights into the fundamental concepts and physics underlying biological light-matter interactions have enabled a cascade of attempts to copy nature’s optical strategies in synthetic structurally colored materials. However, despite rapid advances in bioinspired materials that emulate and exceed nature’s light manipulation abilities, we tend to create these materials via methods that have little in common with the processes used by biology. In this review, we compare the processes that enable the formation of biological photonic structures with the procedures employed by scientists and engineers to fabricate biologically inspired photonic materials. This comparison allows us to reflect upon the broader strategies employed in synthetic processes and to identify biological strategies which, if incorporated into the human palette of fabrication approaches, could significantly advance our abilities to control material structure in three dimensions across all relevant length scales.

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Section: Biological Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological growth and synthetic fabrication of structurally colored materials

McDougal

Miller

Singh

et al. 2019

J. Opt.

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“…This view is also compatible with a rowing and surface-skimming locomotion hypothesis for extracting oxygen from water by gill movement, which is reported for some extant stoneflies 65 , 66 . Interestingly, recent studies report the presence of tracheae in the wing membrane of the adult libellulid dragonfly Zenithoptera lanei (Odonata), which have an uncertain role but indicate they could also have been retained by adults of ancient pterygotes 67 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thoracic and abdominal outgrowths in early pterygotes: a clue to the common ancestor of winged insects?

Prokop,

Rosová,

Leipner

et al. 2023

Commun Biol

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One of the fundamental questions in insect evolution is the origin of their wings and primary function of ancestral wing precursors. Recent phylogenomic and comparative morphological studies broadly support a terrestrial ancestor of pterygotes, but an aquatic or semiaquatic ancestor cannot be ruled out. Here new features of the branchial system of palaeodictyopteran larvae of several different instars of Katosaxoniapteron brauneri gen. et sp. nov. (Eugereonoidea) from the late Carboniferous collected at Piesberg (Germany) are described, which consist of delicate dorsolateral and lamellate caudal abdominal gills that support an aquatic or at least semiaquatic lifestyle for these insects. Moreover, the similar form and surface microstructures on the lateral abdominal outgrowths and thoracic wing pads indicate that paired serial outgrowths on segments of both tagmata presumably functioned as ancestral type of gills resembling a protopterygote model. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the wing sheaths of later stage damselfly larvae in hypoxic conditions have a respiratory role similar to abdominal tracheal gills. Hence, the primary function and driving force for the evolution of the precursors of wing pads and their abdominal homologues could be respiration.

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“…The wing veins contain six layers of cuticle. Inside the vein, hemolymph, neurons, tissues, and tracheae exist, hydrating the cuticle of the wing membrane and allowing the membrane to retain its elasticity [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Throughout the body of the insect, hypodermal cells inside the living integument secrete endocuticle materials daily.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resilin Distribution and Abundance in Apis mellifera across Biological Age Classes and Castes

Anderson,

Keime,

Fong

et al. 2023

Insects

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The presence of resilin, an elastomeric protein, in insect vein joints provides the flexible, passive deformations that are crucial to flapping flight. This study investigated the resilin gene expression and autofluorescence dynamics among Apis mellifera (honey bee) worker age classes and drone honey bees. Resilin gene expression was determined via ddPCR on whole honey bees and resilin autofluorescence was measured in the 1m-cu, 2m-cu, Cu-V, and Cu2-V joints on the forewing and the Cu-V joint of the hindwing. Resilin gene expression varied significantly with age, with resilin activity being highest in the pupae. Autofluorescence of the 1m-cu and the Cu-V joints on the ventral forewing and the Cu-V joint on the ventral hindwing varied significantly between age classes on the left and right sides of the wing, with the newly emerged honey bees having the highest level of resilin autofluorescence compared to all other groups. The results of this study suggest that resilin gene expression and deposition on the wing is age-dependent and may inform us more about the physiology of aging in honey bees.

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The unusual tracheal system within the wing membrane of a dragonfly

Cited by 14 publications

References 29 publications

Biological growth and synthetic fabrication of structurally colored materials

Biological growth and synthetic fabrication of structurally colored materials

Thoracic and abdominal outgrowths in early pterygotes: a clue to the common ancestor of winged insects?

Resilin Distribution and Abundance in Apis mellifera across Biological Age Classes and Castes

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