Refining the risk of freezing mortality for Antarctic terrestrial microarthropods

Convey, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8497-9903; Worland, M. Roger. 2000 Refining the risk of freezing mortality for Antarctic terrestrial microarthropods. CryoLetters, 21 (6). 333-338.

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Abstract/Summary

In studies of three common, freezing susceptible, Antarctic microarthropods, the springtail Cryptopygus antarcticus and the mites Alaskozetes antarcticus and Halozetes belgicae, we report (i) the consequences on cold tolerance of cooling in contact with water, and (ii) the risk of freezing when held at temperatures above the typical freezing point (measured using standard techniques) for up to 12 h. The springtail showed no change in SCP distribution when in contact with freezing water while, in contrast, the mites showed clear shifts towards decreased cold tolerance, in addition to death of c. 33% of individuals during the freezing of the water. The springtail showed a bimodal SCP distribution, with the population divided into "high"(typically -8 to -12 degree C) and "low" (typically below -20 degree C) groups. Some animals held at temperatures above these values froze, over a timescale between minutes and several hours. These results highlight the danger of equating standard cold tolerance measures with mortality risk under more realistic water and thermal regimes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0143-2044
Additional Keywords:	Antarctic, mite, springtail, exogenous nucleation, mortality risk
Date made live:	19 Nov 2012 13:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/20462

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme

ISSN:

0143-2044

Additional Keywords:

Antarctic, mite, springtail, exogenous nucleation, mortality risk

Date made live:

19 Nov 2012 13:41 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/20462