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Long-term anhydrobiotic survival in semi-terrestrial micrometazoans
Article first published online: 28 FEB 2006
DOI: 10.1017/S095283690200078X
1469-7998/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=ec34f05777fda21f88c13e60007b0ee7d497ce89 "Journal of Zoology")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Guidetti, R. and Jönsson, K. I. (2002), Long-term anhydrobiotic survival in semi-terrestrial micrometazoans. Journal of Zoology, 257: 181–187. doi: 10.1017/S095283690200078X
Publication History
- Issue published online: 28 FEB 2006
- Article first published online: 28 FEB 2006
- Accepted 4 June 2001
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Tardigrada;
- Rotifera;
- Nematoda;
- anhydrobiosis;
- cryptobiosis
Abstract
This study represents the first systematic investigation of long-term anhydrobiotic survival in tardigrades, rotifers and nematodes inhabiting mosses and lichens. Sixty-three different samples from public and private collections, kept dry for 9–138 years, were examined. Rotifers of the genus Mniobia and the eutardigrade Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri (hatched from eggs) were found alive from one of the samples (9 years old). These observations represent the longest record for rotifers in the anhydrobiotic state. For tardigrades, our results confirm previous reports on the upper limit of anhydrobiotic survival under atmospheric oxygen conditions. This study suggests the possibility that tardigrade eggs are able to withstand longer periods in anhydrobiosis than animals. Some problems related to the evaluation of long-term anhydrobiotic survival, such as contamination and chemical treatments of samples, are reported. The possible role of the microenvironment in which the anhydrobiotic animals are kept is discussed.