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A researcher from the University of Stuttgart and his colleagues have discovered a new species of tardigrade in the Black Forest National Park. The species has been named Ramazzottius kretschmanni in tribute to Minister President Winfried Kretschmann, who was personally shown the discovery.
Tiny yet powerful, and still mysterious to science: A new discovery from the Black Forest pays tribute to the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg and his dedication to species protection and biodiversity. The new tardigrade species Ramazzottius kretschmanni was presented at the National Park Center in Ruhestein. Prof. Ralph Schill, zoologist at the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, first identified and scientifically described them together with Prof. Roberto Guidetti from the University of Modena and his team.
"This is truly an honor. As with all protected areas, the national park is especially close to my heart. And preserving biodiversity is one of the most important tasks facing humanity as it is the only way to secure the future of our planet," said Minister President Winfried Kretschmann. "As a biologist, it is of course a great honor for me to be immortalized in the nomenclature of biological species. Every living thing is important for our planet - no matter how small. This can also be seen in the fact that tardigrades have been around much longer than humans and can withstand extreme environmental conditions. This makes tardigrades true wonders of nature."
Research focus: tardigrades
Tardigrades are the only multicellular organisms known to date that have survived space flight without protective suits - and subsequently reproduced completely normally on Earth. “This is due to their remarkable survival skills: In extreme conditions, some species contract into a barrel-like form, allowing them to withstand temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius and plunging as low as –200 degrees," explains Schill, a leading international tardigrade expert who has studied the tiny eight-legged creatures for many years.
The creatures, which otherwise resemble soft gummy bears, look like crumpled vacuum cleaner bags in this state - and can survive for more than 20 years. When conditions improve, they can then awaken to new life within 30 minutes, as if from a deep sleep. These survival experts inhabit extreme environments – from hot deserts and tropical rainforests to glaciers and the deep sea.
Since 2016, Schill's research on tardigrades has been an important part of biodiversity studies in the Black Forest National Park. “So far, we have been able to identify 28 species there – including one that was found in Germany for the first time, and now even this species, which is completely new to science,” Schill emphasizes. Why was it named after Kretschmann? “The national park team and I quickly agreed on this. With the establishment of the Black Forest National Park, the Minister President has made a decisive contribution to the protection of biological diversity - especially in the large area that we cannot see with the naked eye."
Survival artists in the microcosm
Ramazzottius kretschmanni was first discovered near the Ruhestein—both among the towering silver firs, reaching up to 20 meters, at the National Park Center and in the protected forest area of the Wilder See. The animals, which live on and in damp mosses, lichens, and dead wood, are only about 400 micrometers in size and have a striking reddish-beige, mottled coloration - unusual for tardigrades, which are usually colorless or inconspicuous. The number, arrangement, and shape of their strong leg claws also set them apart from other tardigrade species.
Their presence in the treetops is remarkable: since the animals cannot actively climb up tree trunks, they use special strategies to reach lofty heights - for example, by being carried by the wind when dry or transported to the treetops by birds carrying pieces of moss. Their eggs, which look like small raspberries, are laid individually. Both young and adult animals feed on algae and mosses and, like all tardigrades, can survive extreme drought and frost.
For Schill, this Sleeping Beauty slumber is the most fascinating and mysterious aspect of these tiny creatures. "We have many pieces of the puzzle, but the big picture is still unclear. It will take decades - if we manage it at all - before we understand how tardigrades are able to stop their biological aging and sustain life", the zoologist explains.
With the discovery of Ramazzottius kretschmanni, the number of known tardigrade species in Germany has grown to 99 - 91 on land and 8 in the sea. Of these, 80 live in Baden-Württemberg alone. To date, nearly 1,500 species have been described worldwide. Schill will continue to search for tardigrades in the Black Forest National Park - and he is certain that he will find even more. “Whether they are known or new species, remains to be seen.”
Prof. Dr. Ralph Schill , University of Stuttgart, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, Tel. +49 (0) 172 730 4726, email: ralph.schill@bio.uni-stuttgart.de
https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/university/news/all/newly-discovered-tardigrade-...
https://www.bio.uni-stuttgart.de/en/
https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/university/news/all/A-scurrying-census-99-specie...
https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/university/news/all/Sleeping-Beauty-in-an-ice-cu...
Prof. Ralph Schill has been conducting research in the Black Forest National Park since 2016. He and ...
Quelle: Ralph Schill
Copyright: University of Stuttgart
At just 400 micrometers, the tardigrade is less than half that size and invisible to the naked eye. ...
Quelle: Ralph Schill / Eye of Science
Copyright: University of Stuttgart / Eye of Science
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