Reply #14: They go into an inactive state called a "tun" [View All]

[SallyMander]

When environmental conditions are bad... The tun can basically withstand anything. From Wikipedia:

Tardigrades have been known to withstand the following extremes while in this state:

* Temperature — tardigrades can survive being heated for a few minutes to 151°C or being chilled for days at -200°C, or for a few minutes at -272°C. (1° warmer than absolute zero).<7>
* Pressure — they can withstand the extremely low pressure of a vacuum and also very high pressures, many times greater than atmospheric pressure. It has recently been proven that they can survive in the vacuum of space. Recent research has notched up another feat of endurability; apparently they can withstand 6,000 atmospheres pressure, which is nearly six times the pressure of water in the deepest ocean trench. <8>
* Dehydration - tardigrades have been shown to survive nearly one decade in a dry state.<9>
* Radiation — as shown by Raul M. May from the University of Paris, tardigrades can withstand 5,700 grays or 570,000 rads of x-ray radiation. (Ten to twenty grays or 1,000-2,000 rads could be fatal to a human). The only explanation, thus far, for this ability is that their lowered hydration state provides less reactants for the ionizing radiation. It ought to be noted that radiation doesn't seem to fit in with these other extreme states. There simply aren't typical areas of massive radiation, especially where we find them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrada



I read about some tardigrades that "came back to life" after a moss specimen in a museum was rehydrated -- and they had been inert for 130 years!!! :wow:

But while they're in an active state i assume they age and die relatively quickly... :shrug:


Edit to add link. :)