Biologija i ekologija dugoživaca (Ecdysozoa: Tardigrada)

undergraduate thesis

• Title (english): Biology and ecology of tardigrades (Ecdysozoa: Tardigrada)
• Author: Siniša Habazin
• Mentor: Renata Matoničkin Kepčija (mentor)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2012, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Ovaj završni seminarski rad bavi se općenitim prikazom biologije i ekologije dugoživaca. Dugoživci (Tardigrada) su protostomični beskralježnjaci mikroskopske veličine od 0,1 do 2 mm što ih svrstava u meiofaunu. Iako su im pripisivane različite sistematske kategorije, danas se smatraju pripadnicima nadkoljena Ecdysozoa. Opisano je preko tisuću vrsta podijeljenih u tri razreda. Relativno su jednostavne tjelesne građe slične onoj u člankonožaca, kolutićavaca i crvonožaca. Najpoznatiji su po sposobnosti ulaska u stanje kriptobioze, tj. preživljavanja niskih temperatura, suše, visokih doza zračenja i sl., iako to mogu i neke druge vrste. Evolucija dugoživaca nije u potpunosti jasna ali je otkriveno da su srodstveno ipak bliži crvonošcima nego oblićima. Geografski su široko rasprostranjeni po kopnenim, morskim i slatkovodnim biotopima. Njihova najpoznatija i najbolje istražena staništa su mahovine i lišajevi, no nađeni su i na ekstremnim staništima poput ledenjaka ili termalnih izvora. Ekološka uloga, kao i drugim pripadnicima meiofaune, im nije beznačajna što je dokaz kompleksnosti trofičkih odnosa na raznim mikrostaništima. Tardigradološka istraživanja u zadnjih deset godina su pojačana što je dokaz da dugoživci nisu opskurno, već manje poznato koljeno živog svijeta te da su izazov ne samo za klasičnu zoologiju već za fundamentalna istraživanja u znanosti o životu.

Abstract (english)

This undergraduate thesis finds its purpose in presenting general review of tardigrade biology and ecology. Tardigrades (Tardigrada) are protostomic invertebrates of microscopic size varying from 0,1 to 2 mm, what places them in meiofauna. Formerly they were assigned various systematic positions, but today tardigrades are considered members of Ecdysozoa superphylum. There are over thousand described species divided into three classes. Their fairly simple anatomy is similar to that found in arthropods, annelids and onychophorans. Cryptobiosis, i. e. surviving low temperatures, drought and high doses of radiation is the best known remark of tardigrades. Evolution of Tardigrada still remains partialy unclear, but phylogenetic analyses have proven their closer relationship to onychophorans than nematodes. Tardigrades have cosmopolitan distribution which extends from marine and freshwater, to terrestrial biotopes. Although mosses and lichens are the most common and best investigated tardigrade habitats, they were also recovered from glacier ice and hot springs. Ecological role of tardigrades, as well as other meiofauna members is is not negligible, and, in fact, proves complex trophic relationships on a broad range of microhabitats. Tardigradological investigations have been intensified during the last decade. Once again, that is a reminder tardigrades are not obscure, but less-known phylum of the living world, posing a challenge not only for classical zoology, but for fundamental life science research.

• Keywords: dugoživci
• Keywords (english): tardigrades
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:556297
• Study programme: Title: Environmental Sciences; Study programme type: university; Study level: undergraduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) struke znanosti o okolišu (sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) struke znanosti o okolišu)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2018-04-16 10:33:08