Diatom Colony Formation: A Computational Study Predicts a Single Mechanism Can Produce Both Linkage and Separation Valves Due to an Environmental Switch1

The morphological plasticity and adaptive behavior exhibited during diatom colony formation in Aulacoseira is explored through computer simulation to study how the interplay of mechanisms such as cytoskeletal-driven membrane protrusions, silica deposition, and environmental factors may contribute to the generation of two distinct spine morphologies on linkage and separation valves. A multiscale agent-based computational model was developed, which showed that a single cytoskeleton-driven, competitive growth mechanism could generate either of the two characteristic phenotypes, given only a single switch in the environment (as might be experienced by a change in light regime). Hypotheses are formulated from the model, and predictions made for potential follow-up experiments.