3D Printing: Applications in evolution and ecology

Abstract

In the commercial and medical sectors, 3D printing is delivering on its promise to enable a revolution. However, in the fields of Ecology and Evolution we are only on the brink of embracing the advantages that 3D printing can offer. Here we discuss examples where the process has enabled researchers to develop new techniques, work with novel species, and to enhance the impact of outreach activities. Our aim is to showcase the potential that 3D printing offers in terms of improved experimental techniques, greater flexibility, reduced costs and promoting open science, while also discussing its limitations. By taking a general overview of studies using the technique from fields across the broad range of Ecology and Evolution, we show the flexibility of 3D printing technology and aim to inspire the next generation of discoveries.

Identification of Factors Affecting Predation Risk for Juvenile Turtles Using 3D Printed Models

“…Avian predators generally rely on visual cues for prey detection [20,21]. Thus, incorporating movement into models may provoke greater predation attempts by birds beyond the simple visual cue of an exposed (albeit static) model [29,56] (but see [31,57]).…”

“…These studies have traditionally relied on models constructed from clay (plasticine) or silicone and have been useful for understanding factors contributing to predation risk [27]. Advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has facilitated use of more realistic and standardization of models for studying the ecology of numerous species [28,29]. In addition to identification of predators, prey models can be used to understand timing of predation (particularly when monitored with cameras), variation in predation risk based on biotic or abiotic factors, and mechanisms of prey detection [30].…”

Defossilization: A Review of 3D Printing in Experimental Paleontology

“…The final printed brachiopod was created by mirroring the valve that was well enough preserved for use. While neontological studies are have different constraints, we highly recommend exploring this literature for applications relevant to the fossil record (e.g., Mehrabani et al, 2014;Wen et al, 2014;Porter et al, 2015;Walker and Humphries, 2019).…”

“…There is an ever-growing variety of materials available for 3D printing including plastics, steel, aluminum, sandstone, thermoplastic polyurethane, photopolymer resin, and composite powders (see Shapeways 4 and Bluedge 5 ). The methods used to create prints using these different materials are variable (e.g., Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Polyjet Technology, and Binder Jetting, Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and Selective Laser Melting) (Bluedge 5 and Shapeways 4 , see Walker and Humphries, 2019) as are their resolutions and capabilities. Many different materials have been used in previous paleontological and biological studies, primarily plastics (Huynh et al, 2013;Germann et al, 2014;Mehrabani et al, 2014;Porter et al, 2015;Muscutt et al, 2017;Pearson, 2017;Anderson et al, 2018;Garcia et al, 2018;Voegele et al, 2018;Dievert et al, 2019), powders (Schilling et al, 2013;Crofts and Summers, 2014;Ishida and Kishimoto, 2015;Kolmann et al, 2015;Johnson et al, 2018), and resins (Jonsson et al, 2017;DiMarco et al, 2018).…”

Additive manufacturing for energy storage: Methods, designs and material selection for customizable 3D printed batteries and supercapacitors

“…AM is already well known in the field of medicine for making surgical guides and custom-made prosthetics [11,12]. The tomographic data of a patient is used to produce a CAD design which can be 3D printed according to the size and shape of each individual patient.…”