Fischer, J; Schoppmann, K; Laforsch, C: Life History Responses and Feeding Behavior of Microcrustacea in Altered Gravity – Applicability in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS), Microgravity Science and Technology, 29, 241-249 (2017), online: 2017-04-10, doi:10.1007/s12217-017-9545-x
Key words: CELSS; Zooplankton; Ostracoda; Reproduction; Mortality; Food chain
Abstract:
Manned space missions, as for example to the planet Mars, are a current objective in space exploration. During such long-lasting missions, aquatic bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) could facilitate independence of resupply from Earth by regenerating the atmosphere, purifying water, producing food and processing waste. In such BLSS, microcrustaceans could, according to their natural role in aquatic ecosystems, link oxygen liberating, autotrophic algae and higher trophic levels, such as fish. However, organisms employed in BLSS will be exposed to high acceleration (hyper-g) during launch of spacecrafts as well as to microgravity (μg) during space travel. It is thus essential that these organisms survive, perform and reproduce under altered gravity conditions. In this study we present the first data in this regard for the microcrustaceas Daphnia magna and Heterocypris incongruens. We found that after hyper-g exposure (centrifugation) approximately one third of the D. magna population died within one week (generally indicating that possible belated effects have to be considered when conducting and interpreting experiments during which hyper-g occurs). However, suchlike and even higher losses could be countervailed by the surviving daphnids’ unaltered high reproductive capacity. Furthermore, we can show that foraging and feeding behavior of D. magna (drop tower) and H. incongruens (parabolic flights) are rarely altered in μg. Our results thus indicate that both species are suitable candidates for BLSS utilized in space.
Upcoming ...


BayCEER Colloquium:
Th. 2024-04-18
The Canvas of Change: Creative Marketing for Behaviour Change, Sustainability and Social Good
Th. 2024-04-18
Survival, 'dormancy', and resuscitation of microorganisms in water-limited environments: insights from coastal salt flats and desert soil crusts
BayCEER Short Courses:
Tu. 2024-04-16
Geographical information system and R environment for conservation biology
Ecological-Botanical Garden:
Su. 2024-04-07
Führung | Talking Tree: Was Bäume über´s Klima erzählen
Fr. 2024-04-19
Führung | Gesteine im Ökologisch-Botanischen Garten
Weather research site
Luftdruck (356m): 950.2 hPa
Lufttemperatur: 8.0 °C
Niederschlag: 5.2 mm/24h
Sonnenschein: 2 h/d

...more
Globalstrahlung: 49 W/m²
Lufttemperatur: 3.9 °C
Niederschlag: 3.6 mm/24h
Wind (Höhe 32m): 22.7 km/h

...more
This site makes use of cookies More information