This volume contains studies on the evolution and function of
lightweight constructions of planktonic and other organisms, and
examples of how they can be used to create new solutions for radical
innovations of lightweight constructions for technological application.
The principles and underlying processes responsible for evolution and
biodiversity of marine plankton organisms are highly relevant and
largely unresolved issues in the field of marine science. Amongst the
most promising objects for the study of evolution of stable lightweight
constructions are marine organisms such as diatoms or radiolarians.
Research in these fields requires interdisciplinary expertises such as
in evolutionary modelling, paleontology, lightweight optimization,
functional morphology, and marine ecology. Considerable effort and
expert knowledge in production engineering or lightweight optimization
is necessary to transfer knowledge on biogenic structures and
evolutionary principles into new lightweight solutions. This book show
methods and examples of how this can be achieved efficiently.