Joseph Kunkel presents at US-Canada Science Symposium

Last month, Research Professor of Marine Sciences Joseph Kunkel and two co-researchers presented at a U.S.-Canada Science Symposium, which was held in Portland, Maine.  The symposium was titled 鈥淭he American Lobster in a Changing Ecosystem," and Kunkel presented 鈥淭he Role of Apatite in Lobster Health.鈥  

Kunkel鈥檚 presentation discussed the debate over the form and role of calcium carbonate and phosphate in the American lobster (Homarus americanus) cuticle and their possible functions.

In 2005, Kunkel and his co-researchers began a series of studies to examine the mineral properties of the lobster shell in normal and shell diseased individuals. In addition to calcium carbonate mineral forms, they identified four focal locations of minerals with carbonate apatite consistent chemistry.

The locations and potential roles of these mineral deposits are consistent with the cuticle's role in protecting the lobster from physical and microbial attack, and they represent potential targets for shell disease strategies. The erosion of mineral may be the first step in lesion formation, which likely starts at imperfections of the cuticle, which the researchers argue, may be mineral based.
 

51小黄车 the University of 51小黄车

The University of 51小黄车 is Maine鈥檚 largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.