A short review on tardigrades – some lesser known taxa of polyextremophilic invertebrates
Journal Title: Extreme Life, Biospeology & Astrobiology - International Journal of the Bioflux Society - Year 2011, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
Tardigrades are polyextremophilic small organisms capable to survive in a variety of extreme conditions. By reversibly suspending their metabolism (cryptobiosis – tun state) tardigrades can dry or freeze and, thus, survive the extreme conditions like very high or low pressure and temperatures,changes in salinity, lack of oxygen, lack of water, some noxious chemicals, boiling alcohol, even the vacuum of the outer space. Despite their peculiar morphology and amazing diversity of habitats, relatively little is known about these organisms. Tardigrades are considered some lesser known taxa. Studying tardigrades can teach us about the evolution of life on our planet, can help us understand what extremophilic evolution and adaptation means and they can show us what forms of life may develop on other planets.
Authors and Affiliations
Andrea Gagyi-Palffy, Laurentiu Stoian
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP97626
- DOI -
- Views 159
- Downloads 0
Describing head shapes of white stem borers (Schirpophaga innotata Walker) that are able to survive on different rice types using Landmark based geometric morphometrics
Rice stem borers are considered as the most serious insect pest of rice in Asia. It infects its plant host by burrowing into the stem using its mandible. However, apart from the mandible, the head of rice stem borers is...
Which are the most tolerant aquarium fishes to hypoxia?
In the current paper we report on the ecophysiological adaptation of the lyretail panchax (Aphyosemion australe) and Gardner’s killifish (Fundulopanchax ardneri) to hypoxia. Their adaptation to hypoxia is real and diffe...
The red neon, Paracheirodon axelrodi (Schultz, 1956), is able to survive in distilled water.
In the current paper we report on the ecophysiological adaptation of the red neon to extremely low water hardness (nearly zero). Such adaptations of aquatic vertebrate species (either fish or frogs) to extreme environmen...
Plant transporters involved in heavy metal homeostasis
Transition metal ions (predominately manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc) have an array of catalytic and regulatory roles in the growth and development of all living organisms. However, an excess of these m...
Interaction of breeds, years, age of bird and pen effects on hen day lay of three layer breeds and their adaptation in the derived Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria
Egg production of Haco black, Shaver’s brown, Lohman brown and Olympia black were collected from production records at Big Bam commercial farm Makurdi from 1997 to 2004. The mean hen day lay of the breeds were estimated...