If you've never heard of tardigrades, also called water bears, you are missing out on one of earth's most interesting animals. These microscopic creatures can be found almost anywhere on earth, but are especially fond of damp places. Because they can shut down their bodily functions and enter a state called cryptobiosis, these resilient animals can survive long periods of time in the harshest of environments, including extreme heat, cold and severe dehydration. They have even been found to survive the vacuum of space!
With all the amazing characteristics of these animals, it is no wonder that there is a conference held in their honor approximately every three years. In August, the 11th International Tardigrade Symposium took place in Tubingen, Germany, at the site of one of the country's oldest universities. Water bear enthusiasts from all over the globe gathered to meet each other, share their discoveries, and learn from other researchers.
Jacksonville State University (JSU) was fortunate to have two students in attendance this year. Dr. Frank Romano, the head of JSU's biology department and a tardigrade expert, was scheduled to attend, but couldn't due to illness. Li-Ju Chen, a graduate student from Taiwan, and Susan Sewell, who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at JSU, made the trip to Germany and attended the symposium.
About the conference, Dr. Romano said, "They [Chen and Sewell] had an incredible time. One of the neat things about this conference is that the authors of all the scientific literature that they're reading are there. They got to meet them and put faces to all the names."
Li-Ju Chen adds, "I was so happy to be able to go. Germany was awesome and Tubingen was very pretty. It was a very good chance to meet the authors. We also got to show how much we know."
Susan Sewell agrees. "I am very thankful to JSU for the opportunity to go to Germany. If it wasn't for the biology department and the school, I never would've had the chance to go to an international conference. It has helped even with my current job and with my students."
Though Dr. Romano wasn't able to attend the International Tardigrade Symposium this year, he still has reason to be excited; he has discovered a new species of tardigrade. Dr. Paul Montagna, a colleague of Romano's in Texas, recently performed a survey of the Gulf of Mexico. Though Dr. Montagna studies another animal, he found tardigrades in some of the samples he collected and gave them to Dr. Romano to study. Romano took these samples to the University of Bari in Italy where he discovered, and another colleague named Dr. Maria D'Abbaddo Gallo confirmed that he was looking at a never-before-seen species of tardigrade.
When asked how he feels about the discovery, Dr. Romano said, "It is absolutely exciting for me to be able to discover a new species. I am getting close to the end of my career, and this is a legacy that will last forever."
Robert Dafoe, who is scheduled to finish his master's thesis at JSU this fall, and Dr. Romano have found two new terrestrial species of tardigrades. These two species have been confirmed by Dr. Lukasz Kaczmarek at the A. Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland, and a paper should be presented in the near future. Dafoe, who now works in Chattanooga, Tennessee as an environmental health inspector, credits JSU for allowing him the opportunity to work with these tiny animals.
"Studying tardigrades has given me insight into a world I never would have fully understood, and I never would have been able to get into such depth at another school. Attending JSU offered me a unique opportunity to research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is quite rewarding to work with methods not previously used when analyzing tardigrade ecology. This is cutting-edge research, and we are paving the path for other people to do research with animals of the same size."
Dr. Romano and Robert Dafoe aren't the only ones at JSU with exciting water bear news; Susan Sewell has discovered a new freshwater species. In fact, she was able to give an oral presentation and a poster presentation at the International Tardigrade Symposium. Sewell, who now teaches biology at Gadsden State, continues to do research on the newly discovered tardigrades and notes that the professors at JSU have been supportive in her endeavor.
Dr. Romano notes that this is a great way to begin a career.
"For students to come out of a master's program with discoveries like these is incredible. It is a thrill and a huge accomplishment for them, the [biology] lab, and JSU itself."
The International Tardigrade Symposium and the discoveries of the new species are exciting experiences for JSU, but we aren't content to stop there. On October 31, the Biology Department, in conjunction with the Physical and Earth Sciences Department and another university, sent several students to cruise with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in order to conduct research. Robert Dafoe, who has been going with NOAA since 2003, was among those on the ship.
These thrilling new developments prove that JSU is important not just on a local level, but an international one as well. Students can leave JSU with knowledge and accomplishments that they can be proud of for the rest of their careers.
Krystin Mitchell, a graduate assistant in the Office of Public Relations, contributed to this article.
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