An experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigrades
Introduction: Tardigrades are small aquatic invertebrates with well documented tolerance to several environmental stresses, including desiccation, low temperature, and radiation, and an ability to survive long periods in a cryptobiotic state under arrested metabolism. Many tardigrade populations liv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1249773/full |
| _version_ | 1797692760393777152 |
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| author | Philip Hagelbäck K. Ingemar Jönsson |
| author_facet | Philip Hagelbäck K. Ingemar Jönsson |
| author_sort | Philip Hagelbäck |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Tardigrades are small aquatic invertebrates with well documented tolerance to several environmental stresses, including desiccation, low temperature, and radiation, and an ability to survive long periods in a cryptobiotic state under arrested metabolism. Many tardigrade populations live in habitats where temporary exposure to hypoxia is expected, e.g., benthic layers or substrates that regularly undergo desiccation, but tolerance to hypoxia has so far not been thoroughly investigated in tardigrades.Method: We studied the response to exposure for hypoxia (<1 ppm) during 1–24 h in two tardigrade species, Richtersius cf. coronifer and Hypsibius exemplaris. The animals were exposed to hypoxia in their hydrated active state.Results: Survival was high in both species after the shortest exposures to hypoxia but tended to decline with longer exposures, with almost complete failure to recover after 24 h in hypoxia. R. cf. coronifer tended to be more tolerant than H. exemplaris. When oxygen level was gradually reduced from 8 to 1 ppm, behavioral responses in terms of irregular body movements were first observed at 3–4 ppm.Discussion: The study shows that both limno-terrestrial and freshwater tardigrades are able to recover after exposure to severe hypoxia, but only exposure for relatively short periods of time. It also indicates that tardigrade species have different sensitivity and response patterns to exposure to hypoxia. These results will hopefully encourage more studies on how tardigrades are affected by and respond to hypoxic conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:33:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc45524b5f094fbe9ef39ba453d673fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:33:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc45524b5f094fbe9ef39ba453d673fb2023-09-05T06:43:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2023-09-011410.3389/fphys.2023.12497731249773An experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigradesPhilip HagelbäckK. Ingemar JönssonIntroduction: Tardigrades are small aquatic invertebrates with well documented tolerance to several environmental stresses, including desiccation, low temperature, and radiation, and an ability to survive long periods in a cryptobiotic state under arrested metabolism. Many tardigrade populations live in habitats where temporary exposure to hypoxia is expected, e.g., benthic layers or substrates that regularly undergo desiccation, but tolerance to hypoxia has so far not been thoroughly investigated in tardigrades.Method: We studied the response to exposure for hypoxia (<1 ppm) during 1–24 h in two tardigrade species, Richtersius cf. coronifer and Hypsibius exemplaris. The animals were exposed to hypoxia in their hydrated active state.Results: Survival was high in both species after the shortest exposures to hypoxia but tended to decline with longer exposures, with almost complete failure to recover after 24 h in hypoxia. R. cf. coronifer tended to be more tolerant than H. exemplaris. When oxygen level was gradually reduced from 8 to 1 ppm, behavioral responses in terms of irregular body movements were first observed at 3–4 ppm.Discussion: The study shows that both limno-terrestrial and freshwater tardigrades are able to recover after exposure to severe hypoxia, but only exposure for relatively short periods of time. It also indicates that tardigrade species have different sensitivity and response patterns to exposure to hypoxia. These results will hopefully encourage more studies on how tardigrades are affected by and respond to hypoxic conditions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1249773/fullhypoxiaanoxybiosistardigradesRichtersius cf. coroniferHypsibius exemplaris |
| spellingShingle | Philip Hagelbäck K. Ingemar Jönsson An experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigrades Frontiers in Physiology hypoxia anoxybiosis tardigrades Richtersius cf. coronifer Hypsibius exemplaris |
| title | An experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigrades |
| title_full | An experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigrades |
| title_fullStr | An experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigrades |
| title_full_unstemmed | An experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigrades |
| title_short | An experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigrades |
| title_sort | experimental study on tolerance to hypoxia in tardigrades |
| topic | hypoxia anoxybiosis tardigrades Richtersius cf. coronifer Hypsibius exemplaris |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1249773/full |
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