eral ▁growth ▁where ▁it ▁then ▁de h yd r ates ▁and ▁transform s ▁into ▁cal cite . ▁ ▁In ▁bi ology ▁Several ▁organ isms ▁have ▁developed ▁methods ▁to ▁stabil ize ▁A CC ▁by ▁using ▁special ized ▁prote ins ▁for ▁various ▁purposes . ▁The ▁function ▁of ▁A CC ▁in ▁these ▁species ▁is ▁infer red ▁to ▁be ▁for ▁the ▁storage / transport ▁of ▁materials ▁for ▁bi om iner al ization ▁or ▁enh ancement ▁of ▁physical ▁properties , ▁but ▁the ▁valid ity ▁of ▁such ▁infer ences ▁has ▁yet ▁to ▁be ▁determined . ▁Earth w orm s , ▁some ▁b ival ves ▁species , ▁and ▁some ▁g ast rop ods ▁species ▁are ▁known ▁to ▁produce ▁very ▁stable ▁A CC . ▁A CC ▁is ▁widely ▁used ▁by ▁cr ust ace ans ▁to ▁st iff en ▁the ▁ex os ke leton ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁to ▁store ▁calci um ▁in ▁g ast rol ith s ▁during ▁the ▁molt ▁cycle . ▁Here , ▁the ▁benefit ▁of ▁util izing ▁A CC ▁may ▁not ▁be ▁for ▁physical ▁strength , ▁but ▁for ▁its ▁periodic ▁need ▁of ▁the ▁ex os ke leton ▁to ▁be ▁dissol ved ▁for ▁mol ting . ▁Sea ▁ur ch ins ▁and ▁their ▁lar va e ▁util ize ▁the ▁trans ient ▁form ▁of ▁A CC ▁when ▁forming ▁sp ic ules . ▁The ▁new ▁material , ▁a ▁hyd r ated ▁form ▁of ▁A CC , ▁for ▁the ▁sp ic ule ▁is ▁transport ed ▁and ▁depos ited ▁at ▁the ▁outer ▁edges ▁of ▁the ▁sp ic ule . ▁Then ▁the ▁depos ited ▁material , ▁A