SERIES ONE: Architectural Language Research_Part Three

EXAMPLES OF ADAPTATION

MOLLUSCS

Primary Concepts:

 

Survival demands innovation and great variation of body plan

New weapons prompt adaptive counter-measures

 

Adaptation Types

In the Abalone: A Biomechanical Foot is used to outrun enemies as well as for locomotion.

The foot can stretch out to crawl while holding on at the same time.

In all shelled mollusks, generate spiral growth which produces layering of shell through a thickening process. Growth and repair of the shell from within from the mantle.

The outer layer is thick and continuously developing.

The shell possesses a thick layer of cross crystals for tensile strength.

A sub layer that looks like a cross-hatch pattern prevents cracks deepening.

Strengthening is only applied to necessary areas rather than as a tank-like strategy.

Articulation of the surface as spines is used to limit the ability for predators to grasp.

 

Buoyancy: The Nautilus with its strong shell keeps buoyant gas at constant pressure through multi-chambered shell with both air and seawater.

 

Defense: The Leafy-Horn Mouth has 3 well placed leaves of shell to foil crabs

Squid adaptation to propulsion is muscles with elastic muscle fibers to better absorb recoil from propulsion, enhanced nervous system for quicker reflexes and 3 hearts enhanced blood and O2 transfer.

 

The octopus is a distinctly unique adaptation of the mollusk

It has no shell which reduces weight and increases propulsion.

Its higher intelligence has permitted it to return to the sea bottom.

Formal adaptability is possible without bones or a shell.

Camouflage is possible through cromataphore color patterning cells reflecting off cells lower in section.