Do Antartctic Tardigrades Survive Better When They Are Wet or Dry When Exposed to Freese/Thaw Cycling?

Authors

Katelyn Hendricks, Brigham Young University
Byron Adams, Brigham Young University

Keywords

antartctic tardigrades, wet or dry, exposed to freese and thaw cycling

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

: Substantial amounts of evidence prove that there are drastic climate changes taking place everywhere on Earth. Antarctica, the home to microscopic tardigrades, or water bears, is no exception. Tardigrades have distinct roles and adaptations that allow them to survive the harsh climates of their environment. Because of climate change in Antarctica, there is a clear increase in the presence of liquid water and freeze/thaw cycles. This correlation raises the question of whether or not the increase of freeze/thaw cycles in Antarctica could result in increased tardigrade mortality. Normally, tardigrades experience the majority of their freeze-thaw cycles in a desiccated state, and don’t have to survive the additional challenges that come with freezing water molecules in their cells and tissues. But with climate change, these freeze/thaw cycles not only occur more frequently, but also when the animals are wet, as opposed to freeze-dried. My project tested this correlation between increased Antarctic freeze/thaw cycles and the increased mortality rate of tardigrades. From my research thus far, I plan to see the correlation that increases in mortality are the result of exposure to various numbers of freeze/thaw cycles. These results can possibly show how Antarctic soil ecosystem functioning might eventually change because of the tardigrades importance in the nutrient cycle of the soil.

Recommended Citation

Hendricks, Katelyn and Adams, Byron (2017) "Do Antartctic Tardigrades Survive Better When They Are Wet or Dry When Exposed to Freese/Thaw Cycling?," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2017: Iss. 1, Article 192.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2017/iss1/192