Carbonate Deposits in Marine Fish Intestines: A New Source of Biomineralization

Authors

Patrick J. Walsh, University of Miami
Patricia Blackwelder, University of MiamiFollow
Kenneth A. Gill, University of Miami
Eva Danulat, University of Victoria - Canada
Thomas P. Mommsen, University of Victoria - Canada

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Limnology and Oceanography

ISSN

0024-3590

Publication Date

9-1991

Abstract

Marine teleostean fish are hypo-osmotic to seawater. As part of a multiorgan osmoregulatory strategy they drink seawater and selectively absorb water and minerals across the intestinal epithelium. Notably, divalent cations (Ca²⁺ and Mg^2-) are left behind. We report here that in the gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta, the ionic by-products of osmoregulation in the intestine contribute to de novo formation of a carbonate mineral, tentatively identified as calcian kutnohorite. Our data suggest that intestinal mineralization is a general feature of osmoregulation in marine teleosts and that this process is an unrecognized and possibly substantial source of marine carbonate sediments.

DOI

10.4319/lo.1991.36.6.1227

Volume

36

Issue

6

First Page

1227

Last Page

1232

Comments

©1991, by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Inc.

NSUWorks Citation

Patrick J. Walsh, Patricia Blackwelder, Kenneth A. Gill, Eva Danulat, and Thomas P. Mommsen. 1991. Carbonate Deposits in Marine Fish Intestines: A New Source of Biomineralization .Limnology and Oceanography , (6) : 1227 -1232. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facarticles/761.