The Tardigrade: The Toughest Organism
by Cole Billot, Junior, iPreparatory Academy
by Cole Billot, Junior, iPreparatory Academy
Some time in middle school, my father told me about the tardigrade. He showed me an article he thought was interesting, but for some reason, it really caught my attention. Ever since then I’ve been interested in them. Because I find them fascinating, I hope the information in this article introduces you to these creatures, and you learn something new.
Why I think they are so interesting:
Tardigrades genuinely are just so interesting. They don’t do much and even seem a bit humorous in some ways, but upon further investigation, they’re some of the toughest creatures on earth. It makes sense why it would be advantageous to be tough, but for tardigrades, it doesn’t make too much sense. Over the years, I’ve learned the basis about them: Considering most tardigrades live in reasonable habitats like moss and bodies of water, they typically don’t need resistances to things like the lack of pressure or unreasonably cold temperatures. Just some food for thought. Overall, tardigrades are just some of the most interesting creatures in our environment.
Tardigrades genuinely are just so interesting. They don’t do much and even seem a bit humorous in some ways, but upon further investigation, they’re some of the toughest creatures on earth. It makes sense why it would be advantageous to be tough, but for tardigrades, it doesn’t make too much sense. Over the years, I’ve learned the basis about them: Considering most tardigrades live in reasonable habitats like moss and bodies of water, they typically don’t need resistances to things like the lack of pressure or unreasonably cold temperatures. Just some food for thought. Overall, tardigrades are just some of the most interesting creatures in our environment.
Discovery
Alina Bradford and Mindy Weisberger published an informational article to the online Science Journal Live Science explaining that Tardigrades were discovered in 1773 by a German zoologist by the name Johann August Ephraim Goeze. He called them “little water bear.” Later on, an Italian biologist named them “Tardigrada” which at least in English is now known as the “tardigrade.”
Facts about Tardigrades Sarah Bordenstein from Marine Biological Laboratory published an informational article in MLER, Microbial Life Educational Resources with interesting facts about the Tardigrade. There are about 1,300 known species of tardigrades. They can range from 0.05 and 1.2 millimeters in length, and they always require a thin layer of water to be surrounding their body. Tardigrades are actually considered to be aquatic creatures because of this, but they can live in far more places than just oceans, moss, and lakes. |
According to Bordenstein, Tardigrades are especially well known for their resilience: They have been seen to survive in quite incredible places that most other animals have never been able to do, such as at the bottom of the Mariana Trench; in air, freezing, and extremely hot conditions; and in the vacuum of space plus all of the solar radiation that humans are unable to withstand. The primary reason they’re able to survive such extreme conditions is a state they can go into known as cryptobiosis.
This same article explains that cryptobiosis is a state in which the tardigrade dries out, tucks in it’s limbs, nearly stops metabolism, and covers the tardigrade in a sugary coating known as a tun. This allows tardigrades to survive a lot of extreme conditions and getting out of the state is as easy as making contact with water by chance.
This same article explains that cryptobiosis is a state in which the tardigrade dries out, tucks in it’s limbs, nearly stops metabolism, and covers the tardigrade in a sugary coating known as a tun. This allows tardigrades to survive a lot of extreme conditions and getting out of the state is as easy as making contact with water by chance.
Conclusion
Tardigrades are by far my favorite animal due to how unique, interesting, and durable they are. From their hardiness, to their bizarre appearance, they’re one of the most compelling creatures out there.
Tardigrades are by far my favorite animal due to how unique, interesting, and durable they are. From their hardiness, to their bizarre appearance, they’re one of the most compelling creatures out there.
Sources
Bordenstein, Sarah; “Tardigrade (Water Bears).” Microbial Life Educational Resources.
https://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/tardigrade/index.html
Bradford, Alina and Mindy Weisberger,. “Facts about tardigrades.” LiveScience. 12 November 2021. https://www.livescience.com/57985-tardigrade-facts.html
“Tardigrade.” National Geographic.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/tardigrades-water-bears
Bordenstein, Sarah; “Tardigrade (Water Bears).” Microbial Life Educational Resources.
https://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/tardigrade/index.html
Bradford, Alina and Mindy Weisberger,. “Facts about tardigrades.” LiveScience. 12 November 2021. https://www.livescience.com/57985-tardigrade-facts.html
“Tardigrade.” National Geographic.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/tardigrades-water-bears