Journal Entry

There are three major types of animals that are found in the Dry Valley Soils: Nematodes, Tardigrades and Rotifers. Nematodes were discussed in the 5 Jan. 2017 post, Tardigrades were discussed in the 7 Nov. 2016 post and in the 9 Jan. 2017 post. Now it is time to introduce you to the Rotifers.

Bdelloid RotiferThis Bdelloid Rotifer was found in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. Rotifers are the second most abundant type of animal in the Dry Valley soils.

Rotifers are the second most abundant group of animals in the Dry Valley soils. Rotifers are similar in size to tardigrades and nematodes. They have a single foot with toes that they can use to attach to surfaces. Rotifers also have a corona (crown). The corona consists of ciliated lobes that are used to create currents which bring in tiny food particles. When the animal is feeding the cilia are moving and it can look like the corona is spinning (rotating) like a wheel.

The rotifers we find in the Dry Valleys are Bdelloid rotifers. These rotifers are all females and they reproduce by parthenogenesis. Parthenogenesis results in all of the daughters being clones of their mother.

Comments

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 11:07

Joshua Heward

Hi Becky, Rotifers can be found nearly everywhere and they are common in Utah. They are a very successful group of animals. Rotifers typically feed on smaller particles, algae and single celled organisms. Tardigrades and nematodes also feed on those things but some species of tardigrades and nematodes are predatory. Here in Antarctica, one of the tardigrades, Milnesium, is a predator and it is possible that one of the nematodes, Eudorylaimus, is an opportunistic predator.

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 11:10

Joshua Heward

Hi Mari,Isn't biodiversity great. There is always some new organism to learn about with its own unique adaptations.

Wed, 02/01/2017 - 18:57

Mattea

Do Rotifers and Nematodes survive extreme conditions similarly to how Tardigrades do? Like can they survive years and years and years just being curled up in a little ball and then come back to life like Tardigrades?

Fri, 01/20/2017 - 07:17

Becky

AWESOME Video. Are their Rotifers everywhere? The Wasatch Front? Are the Rotifers, Tardigrades, and Nematodes every predatory toward each other?

Fri, 01/20/2017 - 20:36

Mari

I've never seen a rotifer before. This is really cool! Looks like I have something new to learn about.

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