In the depth of the cold of Antarctica, small organisms have mastered the strategy of survival that can unlock the mysteries for extreme cold resistance, with implications for science and therapy. Some of the most intensive battles against the environment are teased by the smallest beings.
When it is cool, we, as hot (Endotermic), Animals just put on a coat. Other endothemisms can be large, fat or cute so that their body can be insulated from cold.
Producer The heat of your body, however, A lot of energy is required. Insects do not do this. The heat they need for metabolism and development comes from the environment. It is partly how they are abundant worldwide. They need less energy Like mammals, to grow compared to warm blood animals and are great in taking advantage of this advantage.
Not being able to produce the heat of your own body is a problem for insects in cold places. They are at mercy of environmental temperature and can only develop, develop and feed only when heated. Usually this optimal temperature Is about 20 ° C.
Still some insects survive when the temperature falls below the cold. Generally, when temperature Goes below 0 ° C This causes damage to animal cells and even death. It is a cell damage that causes frostbite.
Many insects use one of the two simple strategies. Freeze tolerance or freeze avoidance.
For example, they produce cryoprotactants such as glycerol, which reduce their cold point. This allows the animal to undergo supercooling without cold. Some antifier esters produce protein Stop the ice crystal from Formation in their tissue.
Mites are common in Antarctic – there are Hundreds of speciesLive in anything Penguin’s nose cavityPenguin nose not only provides a source of food for mites that feeds the dead skin cells of the penguin, but also a warm environment.
However, some Antarctic Mites, who do not trust a host, like, Halozates BelgianAre freezing, Using Antif Esterser Compounds To reduce the cold point of their body to below 0 ° C.
One of the smallest land animals in Antarctica is SpringTel, which belongs to primitive insects but Reduce some characteristics We see in modern insects. For example, their mouthparts are internal while insects are external vocal. A springTel, Gomphiocephalus hodesoniYou can reach a temperature of -38 ° C before freezing. It is only a small species of 1-2 millimeters in length, but is important for the ecosystem of the Antarctic soil, An important function as a decomposer Of organic matter.
Mood species Belogika AntarcticaHowever, the only true insect found in Antarctica is. It eliminates many periods of sub-zero temperature in its lifetime and has some unique strategies to deal with hostile Antarctic climate. This species takes two years to reach adulthood – which is quite long in the time of insect. There are some insects like aphids Many generations in a year,
Belogika Antarctica Can bear ice crystal By reducing the damage to tissue in its body. It can lose water from your body through a semi-permeable outer membrane, which can remove molecules that can form in a crystal of ice.
Perhaps among the most prominent animals in the Antarctic, and in fact, there are nematodes, anywhere on the planet. It is a small worm -like animal, which lives above and above the soil. Like some species Pangrolimus david Their body cells can bear the cold. They can also pass themselves (cryptobiosis) and also pass through a passive state called diapos, which prevents snow crystals in their cells.
Another group that uses this method to deal with the cold Antarctic climate is Tardigrades (also known as water bears). Freezing can expand the life of this animal. In fact, a Tardigrade is known as a species Sarcin Was frozen at 20 ° C And after 30 years, he was deformed without any effect.
Aksheruki, all on Earth create a huge proportion of life. There are many species yetWhich can help us unlock more mysteries to survive in the most extreme environment and how it can benefit humans.
Freeze tolerance and avoidance strategies, medicine and organ transplantation can increase our knowledge of cryoprescence, improve food storage, aid climate adaptation and drive Innovation in biotechnology and material scienceTo study how these subtle life forms tolerate extreme conditions, it can reveal mysteries about the development of life on earth and even provides insight into the future of cryoprescence.
,Author: Alex Ditrich, Senior Lecturer in Zoology, Nottingham Trent University)
,Disclaimer statement: Alex Ditrich does not work for funding from any company or organization, or benefits from this article, and will benefit from this article, and has not disclosed any relevant affiliation beyond their educational appointment.)
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