Tardigrades share morphological characteristics with many species that differ largely by class. Biologist have a difficult time finding verification among tardigrade species because of this close relation. These animals are most closely related to the early evolution of arthropods.[1] Tardigrade fossils go as far back as the cretaceous period, in North America. This specific species is considered cosmopolitan, they can be located in most regions all over the world. The eggs and cysts of tardigrade's are so resistant to other dangers that they are allowed to be carried in great distances, they have the capability to travel on the feet of other animals, then residing in a different location.[2]
Ecological Importance.
editMany organisms that live in aquatic environments feed of off species such as nematodes, tardigrades, bacteria, algae, mites, and collembolans.[3] Tardigrades work as pioneer species by inhabiting new developing environments to live in. This movement attracts other invertebrates to populate that space, while also attracting predators.[4]
Tardigrades have an outer cuticle that may be opaque, white, brown, green, red, or orange. The color of the cuticle is determined as a result of dissolved materials in the body of the tardigrade or the contents that are within the digestive tract.[5]
Terrestrial tardigrades feed on algae, mosses, lichens,liverworts
Marine tardigrades feed on bacteria.
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- ^ Brent Nichols, Phillip (2005). Tardigrade Evolution and Ecology (Ph.D.). University of South Florida.
- ^ Nelson, Diane (2002). "Current status of Tardigrada:Evolution and Ecology". Integrative and Comparative Biology. 42 (3): 652–659. doi:10.1093/icb/42.3.652. PMID 21708761.
- ^ Kinchin, IM (1987). "The moss fauna 1; Tardigrades". Journal of Biological Education. 21 (4): 288–290. doi:10.1080/00219266.1987.9654916.
- ^ Brent Nichols, Phillip (2005). Tardigrade Evolution and Ecology (Ph.D.). University of Florida.
- ^ Dewel, RA (1993). Tardigrada. In : Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates, volume 12: Onychophora, Chilopoda, and Lesser Protostomata. Wiley Liss, Inc.