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Extreme flow simulations reveal skeletal adaptations of deep-sea sponges

Author

Listed:
  • Giacomo Falcucci

    (University of Rome “Tor Vergata”
    Harvard University)

  • Giorgio Amati

    (CINECA Rome Section)

  • Pierluigi Fanelli

    (University of Tuscia)

  • Vesselin K. Krastev

    (University of Rome “Tor Vergata”)

  • Giovanni Polverino

    (University of Western Australia)

  • Maurizio Porfiri

    (Tandon School of Engineering, New York University
    Tandon School of Engineering, New York University
    New York University)

  • Sauro Succi

    (Harvard University
    Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science
    National Research Council of Italy – Institute for Applied Computing (IAC))

Abstract

Since its discovery1,2, the deep-sea glass sponge Euplectella aspergillum has attracted interest in its mechanical properties and beauty. Its skeletal system is composed of amorphous hydrated silica and is arranged in a highly regular and hierarchical cylindrical lattice that begets exceptional flexibility and resilience to damage3–6. Structural analyses dominate the literature, but hydrodynamic fields that surround and penetrate the sponge have remained largely unexplored. Here we address an unanswered question: whether, besides improving its mechanical properties, the skeletal motifs of E. aspergillum underlie the optimization of the flow physics within and beyond its body cavity. We use extreme flow simulations based on the ‘lattice Boltzmann’ method7, featuring over fifty billion grid points and spanning four spatial decades. These in silico experiments reproduce the hydrodynamic conditions on the deep-sea floor where E. aspergillum lives8–10. Our results indicate that the skeletal motifs reduce the overall hydrodynamic stress and support coherent internal recirculation patterns at low flow velocity. These patterns are arguably beneficial to the organism for selective filter feeding and sexual reproduction11,12. The present study reveals mechanisms of extraordinary adaptation to live in the abyss, paving the way towards further studies of this type at the intersection between fluid mechanics, organism biology and functional ecology.

Suggested Citation

  • Giacomo Falcucci & Giorgio Amati & Pierluigi Fanelli & Vesselin K. Krastev & Giovanni Polverino & Maurizio Porfiri & Sauro Succi, 2021. "Extreme flow simulations reveal skeletal adaptations of deep-sea sponges," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7868), pages 537-541, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:595:y:2021:i:7868:d:10.1038_s41586-021-03658-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03658-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Hu, Xiaoyi & Tan, Xinru & Shi, Xiaomin & Liu, Wenjun & Ouyang, Tiancheng, 2023. "An integrated assessment of microfluidic microbial fuel cell subjected to vibration excitation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    2. Djukic, Tijana & Topalovic, Marko & Filipovic, Nenad, 2023. "Validation of lattice Boltzmann based software for blood flow simulations in complex patient-specific arteries against traditional CFD methods," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 957-976.
    3. Giorgio Amati & Sauro Succi & Giacomo Falcucci, 2023. "Enhancing the Power Performance of Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: The Adoption of Passive, Fractal Supports," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-10, September.
    4. Hope Ameh & Lidia Badarnah & Jessica Lamond, 2024. "Amphibious Architecture: A Biomimetic Design Approach to Flood Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Engelmann, L. & Welch, C. & Schmidt, M. & Meller, D. & Wollny, P. & Böhm, B. & Dreizler, A. & Kempf, A., 2023. "A temporal fluid-parcel backwards-tracing method for Direct-Numerical and Large-Eddy Simulation employing Lagrangian particles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).

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