TARDIGRADES:

Dr. William R. Miller Southwestern CollegeDr. William R. Miller Southwestern College

Bears of the Moss

Winfield, KS 67152 316-442-6051 h2obear@horizon.hit.net

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WHAT IS A TARDIGRADE?A Tardigrade is a microscopic aquatic animal that lives in mosses and lichens.

It looks like a little caterpillar that is less than 1/2 mm in length.

0.5 mm

A TARDIGRADE has:

5 body segments5 body segments Separate sexes, lays eggsSeparate sexes, lays eggs 4 pair of legs ending in claws4 pair of legs ending in claws Nervous System with light sensitive spotsNervous System with light sensitive spots Full Digestive & Excretory SystemsFull Digestive & Excretory Systems Complex mouth & pharynx SystemComplex mouth & pharynx System Well developed musclesWell developed muscles NO Respiratory or Circulatory SystemsNO Respiratory or Circulatory Systems

Phylum TARDIGRADAFUNGI ANIMALS PLANTS

MONERA (Bacteria)

(Ciliates)

SpongesFlatworms Roundworms

Mollusks Echinoderms

Arthropods

Annelids

VertebratesFungi

Mushrooms

MoldAlgae

Ferns

BryophytesVascular

PROTISTA (Amoeba)

Tardigrada

Phylum TARDIGRADAArthropods NematodesArthropods NematodesInsects, Ticks, Mites Insects, Ticks, Mites Round WormsRound Worms

LegsLegs * No legs* No legsRespiratory Sys Respiratory Sys No Respiratory Sys No Respiratory Sys **Ladder Nervous Sys Ladder Nervous Sys * Straight Nervous Sys* Straight Nervous SysCirculatory Sys Circulatory Sys No Circulatory Sys No Circulatory Sys **Crossed Muscles Crossed Muscles * Longitudinal Muscles * Longitudinal Muscles Chewing Mouth PartsChewing Mouth Parts Sucking Mouth Parts Sucking Mouth Parts **

* Tardigrade trait

TARDIGRADE Structures:

Sacklike OvaryExcretory Gland

CloacaRectum

Eyespot

Brain

Claw Gland

EsophagusMalpighian Tubule

Oviduct

Stomach

Salivary Gland

SuckingPharynx

Stylet

Ventral Ganglion

TubularPharynx

Immature Eggs

Buccal Aparatus

lateral view

TARDIGRADE Life (stages)

ActiveEat, grow, move, & reproduce

Anoxybiosis

Reaction to reduction in oxygen(Asphyxia)

Encystment

Reaction to slow change in environment(Cyst)

Cryobiosis

Reaction to freezing(Tun)

Osmobiosis

Reaction to increased salinity(Tun)

Anhydrobiosis

Reaction to loss of water(Tun)

EXHIBIT: CRYPTOBIOSIS (lack of life) CRYPTOBIOSIS (lack of life)

Desiccation as environment driesDesiccation as environment dries

Animal shrivels into a “Tun” Animal shrivels into a “Tun” Waits for moisture to returnWaits for moisture to return

TARDIGRADES

ARE CAPABLE OF SURVIVING:

0.05 deg Kelvin (-272.95 deg C) 20 Hours0.05 deg Kelvin (-272.95 deg C) 20 Hours -200 deg C 20 Months-200 deg C 20 Months +120 deg C Above boiling+120 deg C Above boiling 1000 Atmospheres of Pressure 27,000 PSI1000 Atmospheres of Pressure 27,000 PSI Pure VacuumPure Vacuum Excessive concentrations: CO, COExcessive concentrations: CO, CO22, N, N22, H, H22SS Live over 125 YearsLive over 125 Years

TARDIGRADES IN CRYPTOBIOSIS

SPACE TRAVELSPACE TRAVELCold, Heat, Time, Vacuum, Cold, Heat, Time, Vacuum, Pressure, GasesPressure, Gaseshave little or no effecthave little or no effect

on existing formon existing form

TARDIGRADES IN CRYPTOBIOSISARE CAPABLE OF SURVIVING:

Cryptobiotic “Catch 22” Cryptobiotic “Catch 22” Water molecule required for metabolism !Water molecule required for metabolism ! Water molecule expands at freezing point !Water molecule expands at freezing point ! Molecular expansion ruptures cells !Molecular expansion ruptures cells ! NO metabolism !NO metabolism !

Freezing

AliveWater

Expands

Alive

Thaw

TARDIGRADES IN CRYPTOBIOSISARE CAPABLE OF SURVIVING:

TARDIGRADE RESEARCH

Ecology, Habitat, & DistributionEcology, Habitat, & Distribution Evolution & Phylogenetic positioningEvolution & Phylogenetic positioning Population Dynamics & AssociationsPopulation Dynamics & Associations Taxonomy & SpeciationTaxonomy & Speciation ZoogeographyZoogeography BiodiversityBiodiversity VectorsVectors DNADNA

50 m

opportunities

TARDIGRADE ClassificationClass

OrderFamily

Family

HeterotardigradaMesotardigrada

Eutardigrada

Oreellidae Echiniscidae Thermozodidae Milnesiidae

Necopinatidae Eohypsibidae Calohypsibidae Hypsibidae Macrobiotidae

Echiniscoidae Thermozodia Parachela Apochela

TARDIGRADE Identification

MouthLamellae

Buccal tube

StyletsPharynxApophysesMacroplacoidsMicroplacoidSeptulum

Reinforcement bar

Eutardigrada Heterotardigrada

Buccal Apparatus

TARDIGRADE Identification

Secondary branchPrimary branchAccessory spine

Milnesiidae

External

Internal

Spur

Echiniscidae

Hypsibidae &Macrobiotidae

2-1-1-2 Type Claws 2-1-2-1 Type ClawsAccessory spinePrimary branch

Secondary branchLight areas

Flexable jointBase

Cuticular barLunule

Calohypsibidae

Claws

Dorsal PlatesTARDIGRADE Identification

Cirrus A

Cirrus B

Cirrus C

Cirrus D

Cirrus E Slit

Cd

Bd

Cl

Dl

Dd

Dentate collar

Terminal platePseudosegmental

M1

M2

M3M3

Paired plate 1

Internal buccal cirrus

External buccal cirrus

Cephalic papilla

Bl

Scapular plate

Paired plate 2

Terminal

plate

Frontal plate

plate

Echiniscus Pseudechiniscus

Clava

Dorsal Cirri

Eye

Papilla

Paired plate 1

M2

M1

Paired plate 2

Scapular plate

Frontal plate

TARDIGRADE Eggs (fragments)

1 0 mMacrobiotus Macrobiotus

10 m

15 m

Dactylobiotus 20 m

Minibiotus

Hypsibius 10 m

Shed skin50 m

Eggs in.

TARDIGRADES: a New Species?

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Echiniscus nov. sp.

TARDIGRADES live in: MossMoss LichenLichen SoilSoil Leaf LitterLeaf Litter Beach SandBeach Sand Marine SedimentMarine Sediment Fresh Water Algae Fresh Water Algae On ALL ContinentsOn ALL Continents

TARDIGRADES move around:On the Winds On Birds FeetOn the Winds On Birds Feet

OnOn Floating Floating PlantsPlants

Yet sometimes Tardigrades are not found?Yet sometimes Tardigrades are not found?

High

Low

High

Low

High

Low

High

TARDIGRADES and Distribution

RILEY CO.

CRAWFORD CO.COWLEY CO.

ATCHISON CO.

WILSON CO.

Unpublished Records of Tardigrades - Lehman 1972Published Records of Tardigrades - Beasley 1967

NEOSHO CO.

LEVENWORTH CO.

JOHNSON CO.DOUGLAS CO.

OSAGE CO.

SHAWNEE CO.

JACKSON CO.

NEMAHA CO.

POTTAWATOMIE CO.

ANDERSEN CO.

BROWN CO.MARSHALL CO.

DONIPHAN CO.

JEFFERSON CO.

Unpublished Records of Tardigrades - Miller 1998

3

2

4

1 1

114 1

2

1

3

2

1 2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1 1

1

2

1010

1

4

4

3

7

2

31

1

22

0

0

0

00

00

0 00

0

0

0

KANSAS

USA

DISTRIBUTION

DENSITY

DIVERSITY

Hunting TARDIGRADES (where)

Lichens

TREES

TREES

FENCE POSTS

ROCKS

LEAF LITTER

LichensMoss Mosses

STREAMS

Algae

Working with TARDIGRADES (easy)

Mount Tardigrades on Glass Slides

HOYERS

Separate from PlantTake Sample

ARC CITY8/24/97Walnut RiverMoss, Rock, Dry

M97-0023

Dry in Paper Bag

Soak in Water for 24 - 48 Hours

M97-0023Ark City, Ks8/24/97Walnut RiverMoss, Rock, Dry

Store in Formalin or Alcohol

Identify Specimens at 40X, 400X, 1000X

TARDIGRADES and KanCRN

Level 3 Level 3 Collect Tardigrades, identify to species, and Collect Tardigrades, identify to species, and develop advanced projects using Tardigrades as develop advanced projects using Tardigrades as indicators of results. indicators of results. Suitable for Science Fair presentations.Suitable for Science Fair presentations.

Level 2 Level 2 Collect tardigrades, identify to family, Collect tardigrades, identify to family, and submit to International Survey.and submit to International Survey.

Level 1 Level 1 Collect moss & lichen, submit samples Collect moss & lichen, submit samples & get back a report of tardigrades in them.& get back a report of tardigrades in them.

INTERNATIONAL TARDIGRADE SURVEY

TARDIGRADE References

Kinchin, I.M., 1994, Kinchin, I.M., 1994, The Biology of TardigradesThe Biology of Tardigrades, Portland , Portland Press, pp 186.Press, pp 186.

Miller, W.R., 1997, Miller, W.R., 1997, Bears of the MossBears of the Moss, The , The Kansas School Naturalist, Vol. 43, Kansas School Naturalist, Vol. 43, No. 3. pp. 16. No. 3. pp. 16.

Ramazzotti, G. & Maucci, W., 1983, Ramazzotti, G. & Maucci, W., 1983, Il Phylum Tardigrada Il Phylum Tardigrada (3rd ed.), Memorie dell’Istuto italiano di Idrobiologia (3rd ed.), Memorie dell’Istuto italiano di Idrobiologia Marco Marchi, Vol. 41, pp. 1-1012.Marco Marchi, Vol. 41, pp. 1-1012.

Nelson, D.R. 1982, Nelson, D.R. 1982, Proceedings of the third International Proceedings of the third International Symposium on TardigradesSymposium on Tardigrades. . August 3-6, 1980. Johnson August 3-6, 1980. Johnson City, Tennessee, USACity, Tennessee, USA. East Tennessee State University . East Tennessee State University Press, pp. 1-236.Press, pp. 1-236.