Welcome to the research section on the unusual creatures called tardigrades.

Tardigrades can withstand extreme temperatures.

They can hibernate in a state of suspended animation for a hundred years.

These creatures can withstand high doses of radiation.

Tardigrades have been sent into outer space,

lived in that vacuum, and come back to Earth alive.

See a video about their most recent trip by clicking here.

Tardigrades In Space

Tardigrades are just about everywhere.

Would you like to know how to find them?

See my article here:

    http://www.xomba.com/how_find_tardigrades

and here: http://www.microbehunter.com/2011/10/20/microbehunter-magazine-october-2011/

or read the article on the next page  in the menu at top.

The oldest tardigrade was found where?

New Jersey!  Tardigrade Found in Amber pdf file.

Below is the tardigrade population survey I conducted in New Jersey.

Paper to be published soon…

Animated by Clark W. Beasley

Counties of New Jersey

ATLANTIC COUNTY, #00056 Buena, NJ, Sample taken June 25, 2009. Substrate was lichen on brick wall. 39 DEG 30.821 N, 074 DEG 55.541 W. Elevation 101 Ft.

BERGEN COUNTY, #00032, Oakland, NJ. Sample taken June 4, 2004. Substrate was lichen on tree bark. Possible “Hawthorn” tree. Leaf sample taken and pressed. 41 DEG 00.150 N, 074 DEG 14.638 W. Elevation 418 Ft.

BURLINGTON COUNTY, #00042, Unionville, NJ. Collected on Jan 11, 2006 from Maple tree lichen on bark. Maple tree assessment based upon dead leaves on ground and tree structure. This photo of Milnesium. Found in suspension made on Jan 13, 2006. Site location- 40 DEG 01.118 N, 074 DEG 43.930 W, Elevation 84 Ft based upon GPS.

BURLINGTON COUNTY, #00042, Unionville, NJ. Collected on Jan 11, 2006 from Maple tree lichen on bark. Maple tree assessment based upon dead leaves on ground and tree structure. This photo of Ramazzotius. Found in suspension made on Jan 13, 2006. Site location- 40 DEG 01.118 N, 074 DEG 43.930 W, Elevation 84 Ft based upon GPS.                       CAMDEN COUNTY, #00046, from scraping of moss on bark, Blue Anchor, NJ. Collected on 08AUG07, and suspension made on 14NOV07. Permanent slide made 17NOV07, using double coverglass mount in PVA and Cytoseal 60. This is a stacked combination of 4 photos using Helicon Focus program, and Sony Digital camera. Photo taken of tardigrade in PVA, and it looks like it is molting- shedding its husk. Photo using oblique lighting, and 10WF objective with 10x Achromat. Location 39 DEG 39.604 N, 074 DEG 52.708 W. Elevation 139 Ft, using GPS.

CAPE MAY COUNTY, #00045, site sample from scraping of bark from American Holly (Ilex opaca) in So. Seaville, Sea Isle City, NJ. Collected on 04MAR06, and suspension made on 02DEC07. Looks like Macrobiotus. Permanent slide made 10DEC07, using double coverglass mount in PVA and Cytoseal 60. This is a stacked combination of 4 photos using Helicon Focus program, and Sony Digital camera. Image "reversed" in color using photo program. Location 39 DEG 10.893 N, 074 DEG 43.400 W. Elevation 4 Ft, using GPS.

Cumberland County, #00052. From scraping of lichen from stone in Bridgeton, NJ. Collected on 25SEP07, and suspension made on 14OCT07. Definitely Milnesium. Permanent slide made 25OCT07, using double coverglass mount in Hoyers and Cytoseal 60. This is a stacked combination of 4 photos using Helicon Focus program, and Sony Digital camera. Location 39 DEG 25.736 N, 075 DEG 14.824 W. Elevation 86 Ft, using GPS.

 

Essex county, #00035 collected on 05AUG2004. West Orange, NJ tardigrade. Definitely Milnesium. Also found in suspensions were Minibiotis. Lichen scraped from bark of Scarlet Oak (Quescus coccinea). Suspension made 10MAR2008, and tardigrade found on 11MAR08. 40 DEG 46.072 N, 074 DEG 15.122 W. Elevation 216 Ft using GPS

Gloucester County, #00047, from Downer, NJ collected on 08AUG07. Photo taken on 10AUG07 from suspension made on 09AUG07 appears to be Macrobiotus. Tardigrade immediately placed into PVA preservative, and permanently mounted on slide before photo was taken. This is a multiple image photo with Helicon Focus stacking program made from 4 photos. I’m noticing lens flare now, in all of my shots with the new Sony digital camera. Although I’m getting more megapixels (7 mp), the lens flare is a negative for this camera.

Another tardigrade found at site #00047, in same suspension on 13AUG07, and mounted in Hoyers. Also stacked from 4 photos. Substrate was White Oak tree (Quercus alba) and scraping was taken of moss and lichen on bark. Location 39 DEG 41.349 N, 075 DEG 00.845W, elevation 91 Ft per GPS.

Above is a video of Milnesium tardigrade specimen #00029

Hudson County, #00050, from Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ collected on 06SEP07. Photo taken on 03NOV07 from suspension made on 27OCT07. Two tardigrades (in water) appear to be Macrobiotus and Minibiotus. Tardigrades placed into PVA preservative under double coverglass, for permanent mounting on slide after this photo was taken. Both PVA and Hoyers tend to clarify specimens almost immediately, thus I took these photos while tardigrades in water (See Bridgeton #00052 Cumberland Co. above for example of the clarifying effect of Hoyers mountant). Site sample was bark scraping (not much noticable lichen at all) from London Plane Tree, a type of Sycamore, Planatus x acerifolia. Location 40 DEG 41.655 N, 074 DEG 03.514 W, 0 (zero) ft. per GPS.

Mercer County, #00041, from Robbinsville, NJ. Eyepiece 10xWF and objective25x Zeiss achro. Permanent slide made 17JAN08, using double coverglass mount in PVA and Cytoseal 60. This is a stacked combination of 4 photos using Helicon Focus program, and Sony Digital camera. Camera camera was zoomed in to enlarge the specimen in the field. Sample taken 01SEP05 from ground moss. Location 40 DEG 13.703 N, 074 DEG 37.183 W, Elevation 67 Ft. (GPS).

Monmouth County, # 00027, from Farmingdale, NJ. Photo shows good view of Ramazzotius tardigrade. Note the distinctive claw arangement of 2 short , 1 long, and a short on each leg. Mouthparts very clear showing lips, which look like short flexible duck-bill when viewed from various angles. Brown markings on back also distinctive of Ramazzottius. Observation and photo taken on 03JUL05 with Lomo trinicular and CanonA40, using 10x WF objective, 25x Zeiss achromat, and 1.1x magnification changer setting. Sample of lichen covered bark from Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum tree) was collected on 24MAY04, and thus sat for an entire year before suspension was prepared. Location 40 DEG 11.328 N, 074 DEG 09.838 W, 73 Ft. (GPS)

And here is specimen 00027 in a video:

Morris County, # 00008. Morris Plains, NJ. Observations showed the double claws and similar mouthparts to possible Macrobiotis harmsworthii. Top- Eyepiece 10xWF and objective LOMO 20x Phase Contrast- shows body shape and claws. Canon A40 digital camera was zoomed in to enlarge the specimen in the field. Neutral Density#2 filter used. This specimen measured 370 microns. Sample taken18APR01, from Metasequioa glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) tree bark. This bark sample was kept in a zip-lock plastic bag for two years, and it took 3 weeks of soaking to re-hydrate the tardigrades. Observation and photos made 06MAY03. Site location 40 DEG 50.455 N, 074 DEG 28.541 W, Elevation 413 Ft (GPS).                                  

Salem county, #00018. Photo of Auburn, NJ tardigrade. Eyepiece 10xWF and objective20x achro. Canon A40 digital camera was zoomed in to enlarge the specimen in the field. Photo seems to indicate this is a Macrobiotis. Video taken as well. Observations and photos taken13MAR04, with tardigrade in water under cover glass. Sample taken 27OCT03, from lichen on bark of Quericus palustris (Pin Oak) tree. Location 39 DEG 41.910 N, 075 DEG 23.746 W (GPS).

Salem county, # 00054. Photo of Salem, NJ tardigrade. Collected on 25SEP07, and suspension made on 14OCT07. Definitely Milnesium. Permanent slide made 25OCT07, using double coverglass mount in PVA and Cytoseal 60. This is a stacked combination of 4 photos using Helicon Focus program, and Sony Digital camera. Oblique lighting with 10x WF eyepiece and 25x Zeiss achomat objective. Location 39 DEG 34.209 N, 075 DEG 27.864 W. Elevation 22 Ft, using GPS.

Somerset County, #00007. Photos to left are of Somerset, NJ tardigrade No. 2. Eyepiece 10xWF and objective LOMO 10x achro. Canon A40 digital camera was zoomed in to enlarge the specimen in the field. These show body shape and rear claws indicating Ramazzottius genus.Measured 279 microns. Digital sharpening was used.

Sussex County, # 00023. Photo of Newton, NJ tardigrade egg. Eyepiece 10xWF and objective20x achro. Egg looks like might be Macrobiotus aerolatus (Kinchin). Egg spikes measure from tip to tip 14.6 micron. Egg diameter measures from wall to wall 10.9 microns. Observations and photos taken 25JAN04, with tardigrade egg in water under cover glass. Sample taken 14NOV03 from moss on rock surface. Location 41 DEG 02.866 N, 074 DEG 44.200 W, Elevation 623 Ft. (GPS).

Sussex County, # 00023. Photo of Newton, NJ tardigrade. Eyepiece 10xWF and objective20x achro.Canon A40 digital camera was zoomed in to enlarge the specimen in the field. Claw type seems to indicate this is a Macrobiotis, and based upon macroplacoids, could be M. hufelandi. . Tardigrade length measures 32.9 microns. Observations and photos taken 25JAN04, with tardigrade in water under cover glass. Sample taken 14NOV03 from moss on rock surface. Location 41 DEG 02.866 N, 074 DEG 44.200 W, Elevation 623 Ft. (GPS).

Union County, #00055. Photos of Linden, NJ tardigrade. Collected on 07APR08, from lichen on bark of unknown species of tree. Suspension made on 11APR08. Definitely Milnesium. Permanent slide made 12APR08, using double coverglass mount in PVA and Cytoseal 60. Each is a stacked combination of 4 photos using Helicon Focus program, and Sony Digital camera. Photo with Oblique lighting with 10x WF eyepiece and 25x Zeiss achomat objective. Location 40 DEG 38.03 N, 074 DEG 16.17 W. Elevation 62 Ft, using Magellan Topo Maps program to determine coordinates and elevation.

Warren County, #00009. Tardigrade from Hackettstown, NJ. Photo shows distinctive Milnesium claws. This is probably Milnesium tardigradum. Smaller images with eyepiece LOMO 10X WF and LOMO 10X achro objective. Brightfield with condenser iris 50% closed. Darkfield with iris open. Larger images with 10xWF eyepiece and LOMO 40x Achro. Phase stops 20x and 40x used to enhance visibility of claw sets. ND filter #2 used with Canon A40 digital camera. Digital sharpening was used. Observations and photos made on 24APR03 from a sample of moss growing on rock taken 02JUL02. Site location 40 DEG 54.244 N, 074 DEG 49.382 W (GPS)