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Extremophiles
Extremophiles
- Extremophiles 101 - National GeographicExtremophiles are organisms that can live in exceptionally harsh environments. Find out about the different types of extremophiles, their adaptations, where they live, and which one is considered to be the most resilient creature on the planet.
In the North of Ethiopia at Dallol can be found some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. At the bottom of the African Rift valley, beneath a crust of salt 2,000-metres thick, a pocket of magma heats the water that seeps through from the high plateaus of Ethiopia. Loaded with minerals, the heated water rises back to the surface to form a dome of salt, in the middle of the vast Danakil flatlands, that measures 5 kilometres across east to west, and 3 kilometres, north to south. The Dallol dome. In January 2016, for the first time, biologists, microbial ecologists, geologists, and crystallographers landed on this strange planet. The site at Dallol could serve as a scientific model to help understand the workings of primitive Earth during the period when the earliest microorganisms appeared and the mineral world first gave rise to life, over 3.5 billion years ago. Will their expedition enable the researchers to find traces of life under conditions that normally should preclude its very existence?
- Extreme Habitats around the globeFrom the geysers in Yellowstone National Park to the deep ocean hydrothermal vents found near the Galapagos Islands, many types of extreme habitats exist all over the world.
- What is an extreme environment?Extreme environments are found across the Earth. They are places where humans would not survive – for example, environments that have very high temperatures or pressure. They could be very acidic or alkaline or extremely cold with very little nutrients. For scientists like Dr Adele Williamson from The University of Waikato, studying these living organisms’ unique enzymes and DNA repair processes provides new and challenging science that may unlock useful methods and knowledge to help us in our quest for medical advancements.
- How Do Animals Survive in Extreme Environments?Animals survive in extreme environments through a remarkable array of adaptations – both physiological and behavioral – that allow them to withstand conditions that would be lethal to most other organisms. These adaptations often involve changes at the cellular level, alterations to physical structures, and unique behaviors that help them conserve energy, find food, and maintain a stable internal environment despite challenging external conditions. Whether it’s the frigid cold of the Arctic, the scorching heat of the desert, or the crushing pressure of the deep ocean, animals have evolved incredible strategies to thrive in habitats that push the very limits of life.
Tardigrades, also known as water bears or moss piglets, are the toughest and probably the weirdest animal species on Earth. Tardigrades are eight-legged micro-animals that can withstand just about anything, from mass extinctions to the vacuum of outer space, to the pressure of the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth, and radiation 1,000 times stronger than humans can handle.
- Tardigrade - Research StarterA tardigrade is a type of microscopic animal noted for its ability to survive in extreme environments. Also known as water bears, the tiny invertebrates have chubby segmented bodies, heads that resemble short snouts, and clawed toes on each of their eight legs.
migration
Animal Migration
- Animal Migration - Research StarterMigration is a general term employed by ecologists and ethologists to describe the nearly simultaneous movement of many individuals or entire populations of animals to or between different habitats.
- Serengeti National ParkNational park and wildlife refuge on the Serengeti Plain in north-central Tanzania. It is partly adjacent to the Kenya border and is northwest of the adjoining Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is best known for its huge herds of plains animals (especially gnu [wildebeests], gazelles, and zebras), and it is the only place in Africa where vast land-animal migrations still take place. The park, an international tourist attraction, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
Hibernation
Hibernation
- Hibernation - Research StarterAs winter approaches, some animals enter a barely living state. Whereas the body temperature of warm-blooded animals is generally about 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), some larger vertebrates , such as bears, enter a restful state for several of the colder months, during which body temperatures sink to about 30 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Hibernation - Britannicahibernation, a state of greatly reduced metabolic activity and lowered body temperature adopted by certain mammals as an adaptation to adverse winter conditions. A brief treatment of hibernation follows.
- Marmotmarmot, (genus Marmota), any of 14 species of giant ground squirrels found primarily in North America and Eurasia. These rodents are large and heavy, weighing 3 to 7 kg (6.6 to 15.4 pounds), depending upon the species. Marmots are well suited for life in cold environments and have small fur-covered ears, short, stocky legs, and strong claws for digging.
- What is hibernation, how does it work, and which animals do it?Many of us think that hibernating animals go to sleep in the autumn, and wake up in the spring in time for the warmer weather. But there's more to hibernation than that. There are different states of hibernation in hot and cold environments with variable functions, durations and dangers to the animal in question.
- 10 Fascinating Facts about Hibernation -National Geographic KIdsAnimals that hibernate seem to have the right idea: Find a cosy burrow, head indoors, and catch some Zzz’s until spring returns. Or do they?
- Some Animals Don’t Actually Sleep for the Winter, and Other Surprises About HibernationFor people who aren't fans of winter, animals that hibernate seem to have the right idea: It's the equivalent of burying your head under the covers until spring comes—isn't it? Not quite. Read on for more behind the science of hibernation.
- The curious link between animal hibernation and ageing – and what humans could learn from itWhen the cold and dark winter is setting in, some of us envy animals that can hibernate. This long, deep rest is an example of how nature develops clever solution to difficult problems. In this case, how to survive a long, cold and dark period without much food and water. But hibernation has closer links to human history than you might expect.