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A model on the evolution of cryptobiosis

Jönsson, Ingemar LU and Järemo, Johannes LU (2003) In Annales Zoologici Fennici 40(4). p.331-340
Abstract
Cryptobiosis is an ametabolic state of life entered by some lower organisms (among metazoans mainly rotifers, tardigrades and nematodes) in response to adverse environmental conditions. Despite a long recognition of cryptobiotic organisms, the evolutionary origin and life history consequences of this biological phenomenon have remained unexplored. We present one of the first theoretical models on the evolution of cryptobiosis, using a hypothetical population of marine tardigrades that migrates between open sea and the tidal zone as the model framework. Our model analyses the conditions under which investments into anhydrobiotic (cryptobiosis induced by desiccation) functions will evolve, and which factors affect the optimal level Of Such... (More)
Cryptobiosis is an ametabolic state of life entered by some lower organisms (among metazoans mainly rotifers, tardigrades and nematodes) in response to adverse environmental conditions. Despite a long recognition of cryptobiotic organisms, the evolutionary origin and life history consequences of this biological phenomenon have remained unexplored. We present one of the first theoretical models on the evolution of cryptobiosis, using a hypothetical population of marine tardigrades that migrates between open sea and the tidal zone as the model framework. Our model analyses the conditions under which investments into anhydrobiotic (cryptobiosis induced by desiccation) functions will evolve, and which factors affect the optimal level Of Such investments. In particular, we evaluate how the probability of being exposed to adverse conditions (getting stranded) and the consequences for survival Of Such exposure (getting desiccated) affects the option for cryptobiosis to evolve. The optimal level of investment into anhydrobiotic traits increases with increasing probability of being stranded as well as with increasing negative survival effects of being stranded. However, our analysis shows that the effect on survival of being stranded is a more important parameter than the probability of stranding for the evolution of anhydrobiosis. The existing, although limited, evidence from empirical studies seems to support some of these predictions. (Less)
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publication status
published
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in
Annales Zoologici Fennici
volume
40
issue
4
pages
331 - 340
publisher
Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board
external identifiers
  • wos:000185279300003
  • scopus:0141683659
ISSN
0003-455X
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Theoretical ecology (Closed 2011) (011006011), Chemical Ecology/Ecotoxicology (Closed 2011) (011006020)
id
4056cf2b-68c1-4e23-8ce9-899848cca681 (old id 135920)
alternative location
http://www.sekj.org/PDF/anz40-free/anz40-331.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:57:39
date last changed
2022-01-28 08:17:05
@article{4056cf2b-68c1-4e23-8ce9-899848cca681,
  abstract     = {{Cryptobiosis is an ametabolic state of life entered by some lower organisms (among metazoans mainly rotifers, tardigrades and nematodes) in response to adverse environmental conditions. Despite a long recognition of cryptobiotic organisms, the evolutionary origin and life history consequences of this biological phenomenon have remained unexplored. We present one of the first theoretical models on the evolution of cryptobiosis, using a hypothetical population of marine tardigrades that migrates between open sea and the tidal zone as the model framework. Our model analyses the conditions under which investments into anhydrobiotic (cryptobiosis induced by desiccation) functions will evolve, and which factors affect the optimal level Of Such investments. In particular, we evaluate how the probability of being exposed to adverse conditions (getting stranded) and the consequences for survival Of Such exposure (getting desiccated) affects the option for cryptobiosis to evolve. The optimal level of investment into anhydrobiotic traits increases with increasing probability of being stranded as well as with increasing negative survival effects of being stranded. However, our analysis shows that the effect on survival of being stranded is a more important parameter than the probability of stranding for the evolution of anhydrobiosis. The existing, although limited, evidence from empirical studies seems to support some of these predictions.}},
  author       = {{Jönsson, Ingemar and Järemo, Johannes}},
  issn         = {{0003-455X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{331--340}},
  publisher    = {{Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board}},
  series       = {{Annales Zoologici Fennici}},
  title        = {{A model on the evolution of cryptobiosis}},
  url          = {{http://www.sekj.org/PDF/anz40-free/anz40-331.pdf}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}