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What is a tardigrade?
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates (typically 0.1–1 mm) belonging to Phylum Tardigrada. They are also known as 'water bears'. 
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What do they look like?
The tardigrade body is roughly cylindrical or fusiform and covered with a cuticle (clade Ecdysozoa). 
There is a head segment and four body segments, each with a pair of legs. The legs typically have claws or digits of various morphologies.
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Despite their small size tardigrades exhibit remarkable complexity and variation of form.
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Where do tardigrades live?
Tardigrades require water to maintain normal metabolic activity. They are found in marine, freshwater, and damp terrestrial habitats. In the terrestrial environment microhabitats include moss, lichen, and leaf litter.
Tardigrades require water to maintain normal metabolic activity. They are found in marine, freshwater, and damp terrestrial habitats. In the terrestrial environment microhabitats include moss, lichen, and leaf litter.
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SURVIVAL CAPABILITIES
Tardigrades have become well known for their abilities to survive extreme conditions including:
- Desiccation
- Extremes of Temperature
- Oxygen Depravation
- Changes in salinity
- Radiation Exposure
- Vacuum of Space
Biological strategies for coping with unfavourable conditions including diapause (cyst formation and cyclomorphosis) and cryptobiosis have been documented for various tardigrade taxa. Normal metabolic activity is reduced or suspended until conditions improve.
Cryptobiosis
There are several types of cryptobiosis. One example is anhydrobiosis, the response to an insufficiency of the water required to maintain normal metabolic activity. In this situation the tardigrade body is retracted forming a 'tun' while physiology is altered. This phenomenon is commonly seen among semi-terrestial species that can frequently encounter periods of drying out.
There are several types of cryptobiosis. One example is anhydrobiosis, the response to an insufficiency of the water required to maintain normal metabolic activity. In this situation the tardigrade body is retracted forming a 'tun' while physiology is altered. This phenomenon is commonly seen among semi-terrestial species that can frequently encounter periods of drying out.
More information about tardigrades coming soon!
Questions or comments?Address: Erica DeMilio Animal Ecology & Conservation Unit Ryan Institute Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway University Road Galway Ireland |
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