Application summary

Climate change has been shown to negatively impact organisms and their environments. However, our knowledge about its effects and potential adaptations is lacking for micrometazoans. Tardigrades are a phylum of microscopic animals best known for their cryptobiotic ability and its associated taxon-specific molecular adaptations. However, these animals are sensitive to moderately high temperatures when in the active state. The aim of this project is to investigate the molecular adaptations and life-history consequences of (high) temperature stress. I will investigate if there are sex- and/or age-dependent differences in survival and reproductive success, as well as transcriptome response. Furthermore, the potential for (negative) synergistic effect of temperature and two other climate stresses (suboptimal humidity and UV-radiation) will be also investigated. This work provides a comprehensive view of abiotic stress consequences in a neglected part of natural ecosystems, ultimately informing a more inclusive mitigation policy against ongoing anthropogenic change.