Ologies with Alie Ward Tardigradology (TINY SEMI-INDESTRUCTIBLE WATER BEAR MOSS PIGLET CREATURES CALLED TARDIGRADES) with Paul Bartels
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Sep 18, 2024 
Join Dr. Paul Bartels, a passionate tardigradologist from Warren Wilson College, as he unveils the secrets of these incredible water bears. Discover their astonishing survival skills, from enduring space to cryptobiosis. He shares quirky details like their potato shape, bizarre mating behaviors, and unique anatomy. Bartels also unpacks the misconceptions about tardigrades in pop culture and the vital role they play in our understanding of biodiversity. Get ready for a fascinating journey into the microscopic world!
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Tardigrade Habitats and Diets
- Tardigrades live in various moist environments, including ocean sediments, freshwater habitats, moss, lichens, and even gutters.
- They exhibit diverse feeding habits, including carnivory, herbivory, detritivory, and omnivory.
Tardigrade Eyes
- Some tardigrades have eye spots with light-sensing cells, but the pigments' function remains unclear.
- One theory suggests the pigments create shades to help tardigrades determine light direction.
Tardigrade Reproduction
- Most tardigrades reproduce sexually, but some species are hermaphroditic or reproduce asexually.
- One species exhibits unusual mating behavior where the male wraps around the female's head and ejaculates for over an hour.