For many years, Paramacrobiotus richtersi was reported to consist of populations with different chromosome numbers and reproductive modes. To clarify the relationships among populations, type locality species (Clare Island, Ireland) several Italian localities were sampled. Populations investigated an integrated approach, using morphological (LM, CLSM, SEM), morphometric, karyological, molecular (18S rRNA, cox1 genes) data. redescribed a neotype designed from Irish bisexual population....

The Tardigrade Resistance to Space Effects (TARSE) project, part of the mission LIFE on FOTON-M3, analyzed effects space environment desiccated and active tardigrades. Four experiments were conducted in which eutardigrade Macrobiotus richtersi was used as a model species. Desiccated (in leaf litter or paper) hydrated tardigrades (fed starved) flown FOTON-M3 for 12 days September 2007, which, first time, allowed comparison animals. In this paper, we report experimental design TARSE project...

Tardigrades represent one of the most abundant groups Antarctic metazoans in terms abundance and diversity, thanks to their ability withstand desiccation freezing; however, biodiversity is underestimated. tardigrades from Dronning Maud Land Victoria were analysed a morphological point view with light microscopy scanning electron microscopy, molecular using two genes (18S, 28S) Bayesian inference maximum-likelihood frameworks. In addition, indel-coding datasets used for first time infer...

In this paper a new tardigrade species, Macrobiotus azzunae sp. nov., from Tunisia, is described. An integrative taxonomic approach was applied by combining morphological, morphometric and molecular data. particular, light scanning electron microscopy observations, four genetic markers, three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA ITS-2) one mitochondrial (COI) were used. The analysis showed that M. nov. belongs to the hufelandi group most similar sandrae Bertolani & Rebecchi, 1993. It differs more...

Abstract Water unavailability is an abiotic stress causing unfavourable conditions for life. Nevertheless, some animals evolved anhydrobiosis, a strategy allowing the reversible organism dehydration and suspension of metabolism as direct response to habitat desiccation. Anhydrobiotic undergo biochemical changes synthesizing bioprotectants help combat desiccation stresses. One generation reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, eutardigrade Paramacrobiotus spatialis was used investigate...

Morphological and molecular studies on a tardigrade species have been carried out to verify the possibility of using DNA barcoding approach for identification in this phylum. Macrobiotus macrocalix Bertolani & Rebecchi, 1993 was chosen as test since it belongs group which taxonomy is quite problematic. Animals eggs belonging three Italian one Swedish populations investigated. Both morphological analyses show that all belong same species. The low genetic distances recorded among studied...

So far, most studies on tardigrade resistance to extreme stresses have focused their responses several chemical and physical extremes, but there is still a paucity of data regarding the ultraviolet radiation. Considering also future perspectives offered by space flights, we compared biological two eutardigrade species (Paramacrobiotus richtersi Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri) UV irradiation, alone or in combination with multiple stressors (temperature air relative humidity) different...

Anhydrobiosis is a highly stable state of suspended animation in an organism due to its desiccation, which followed by recovery after rehydration. Changes occurring during drying could damage molecules, including DNA. Using the anhydrobiotic tardigrade Paramacrobiotus richtersi as model organism, we have evaluated effects environmental factors, such temperature and air humidity level (RH), on survival desiccated animals degradation their Tardigrades naturally leaf litter tardigrades...

Within the framework of a DNA barcoding project on tardigrade species, study was carried out Macrobiotus hufelandi C.A.S. Schultze 1834, first formally described species. We used samples collected from type locality and additional material other European sites containing species “M. group”. The performed by integrating morphological, karyological molecular (mt-DNA cox1) information comparing these data with morphological material. Several this group were found in M. (near Freiburg, Black...

Antarctica is an ice-dominated continent and all its terrestrial freshwater habitats are fragmented, which leads to genetic divergence and, eventually, speciation. Acutuncus antarcticus the most common Antarctic tardigrade cryptobiotic capabilities, small size parthenogenetic reproduction present a high potential for dispersal colonisation. Morphological (light electron microscopy, karyology) molecular (18S rRNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes) analyses on seven populations of A....

Important contributions have been made to the systematics of Eutardigrada in recent years, but these also revealed that several taxa are polyphyletic and cryptic species present. To shed light on taxonomy systematic position genus Richtersius (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotoidea), six populations attributed coronifer were collected analysed from morphological (light scanning electron microscopy) molecular (mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, 18S, 28S) points view. In particular, a new...

This study considers in a new light population already studied and tentatively attributed to Macrobiotus cf.terminalis (Bertolani, Rebecchi, 1993), by joining molecular approaches the traditional, but indispensable, microscopy, scanning electron microscopy.Differences animal and, above all, egg shell morphology, peculiar cox1 sequence indicate that this clearly pertains species, M. vladimiri sp.n., which is here described.The results obtained can be considered as an example of how modern...

AbstractWorldwide knowledge of tardigrade fauna is still limited, and many areas such as South America are not well studied. The collection new substrates in Argentinean urban provided an opportunity to describe the species Macrobiotus kristenseni sp. nov. This has been studied with integrative taxonomic approach, analysing its morphology by light scanning electron microscopy, considering two genes (cox1 18S rRNA) for DNA barcoding phylogenetic purposes. belongs hufelandi group species, it...

The underestimation of biodiversity and scarce knowledge the biogeographic distributions terrestrial meiofaunal component limit our understanding origin Antarctic fauna. One its main components is tardigrades; nonetheless studies on tardigrade diversity are still few in continental area. In order to increase underreported communities within Antarctica, as well provide new information for evolutionary analysis these communities, 11 samples collected along coast Victoria Land was considered....

Species within the eutardigrade superfamily Macrobiotoidea are usually differentiated through their eggshell morphology. However, this trait can show very high intraspecific variability and, as consequence, species delimitation is challenging without molecular support. Although consists of small details, cases with different egg morphotypes known. Paramacrobiotus bifrons sp. nov. here described an integrative approach, represents one extreme in morphology and it belongs to areolatus group....

We have in recent papers revealed that an integrative taxonomy approach helps to solve taxonomic problems tardigrades. However, whole tardigrades are required for DNA work, which leaves no hologenophore voucher specimens with adult morphology. Using a novel methodology the Tardigrada, we introduce practice of collecting high quality maximum magnification light microscopy images recently thawed animals act as later used barcode sequencing. Within framework barcoding project on tardigrades,...

The taxonomy of tardigrades is challenging as these animals demonstrate a limited number useful morphological char-acters, therefore several species descriptions are supported by only minor differences. For example, Echiniscus oihonnae and multispinosus separated exclusively the absence or presence dorsal spines at position Bd. Doubts were raised on validity two species, which often sampled together. Using an integrative approach, based genetic investigations, we studied new Portuguese...

Abstract Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve [KVBR] is a UNESCO designated area of Sweden possessing high biological value. Although several studies on tardigrades inhabiting have been performed, the KVBR has neglected. The current study investigates tardigrade fauna five areas biosphere reserve and includes 34 samples different substrates analysed quantitatively qualitatively. In total, 33 species were found in samples, including 22 new records for Skåne region, 15 Sweden, four to...

The project 'TArdigrade Resistance to Space Effects (TARSE)' analysed the effects of space microgravity and radiations stresses on eutardigrade Paramacrobiotus richtersi allowing, for first time, a comparison between hydrated desiccated animals. TARSE experiments were part mission LIFE FOTON-M3 that flew at an altitude 250 290 km (Low-Earth Orbit) 12 days in September 2007. experimental units housed BIOKON facility installed inside Russian spacecraft FOTON-M3. In this paper, data survival...

The origin of the Antarctic continental extant fauna is a highly debated topic, complicated by paucity organisms for which we have clear biogeographic distributions and understanding their evolutionary timescale. To shed new light on this coupled molecular clock analyses with studies heterotardigrade genus Mopsechiniscus. This taxon includes species endemic in Antarctica other regions southern hemisphere. Molecular dating using different models calibration priors retrieved similar divergence...