The bdelloid rotifer of the genus Adineta is a freshwater metazoan characterized by anhydrobiosis, a highly stable state of suspended animation induced by desiccation. This study investigated the influence of anhydrobiosis on the thermal habituation by use of an index, Activity Ratio (AR = the number of active rotifers at each experimental temperature/ number of active rotifers at the 25°C stage). In the first experiment, rotifers were divided into two groups: one group was cultivated at 25°C throughout experiment, and another group was transferred to 15°C for two days. AR was estimated during heating up to 40°C, or during cooling down to 5°C in each group. The largest difference in AR occurred at 35°C and 10°C, indicating that AR was changed depending on the pretreated medium temperature. In the next experiment, rotifers were maintained at 15°C, and were desiccated (anhydrobiosis). AR was estimated in the high temperature range (25°C to 40°C), using rotifers that had recovered from anhydrobiosis. AR was significantly different between the groups with and without desiccation, suggesting that thermal habituation at 15°C was completely cancelled by anhydrobiosis. Possible mechanisms on the influence of anhydrobiosis on the thermal habituation have been discussed in terms of neural changes and proteins.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 April 2017
Anhydrobiosis Affects Thermal Habituation in the Bdelloid Rotifer, Adineta sp.
Mai Kanazawa,
Takahiro Nanri,
Masayuki Saigusa
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Zoological Science
Vol. 34 • No. 2
April 2017
Vol. 34 • No. 2
April 2017
anhydrobiosis
bdelloid rotifer
Desiccation
habituation
temperature