Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2025
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V5
Höfundar / Authors: Mikael Norðquist (1,2)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Háskóli Íslands, 2. Icelandic Space Agency
Kynnir / Presenter: Mikael Norðquist
The tardigrade fauna of Iceland, an island defined by extreme volcanic and glacial dynamics, remains a significant knowledge gap in global tardigrade biogeography. This study is the first comprehensive project to map Iceland's tardigrade biodiversity using modern molecular techniques. Our primary objectives are to establish a species inventory that differentiates cryptic species, analyze biogeographical patterns, and investigate the possibility of endemic lineages that survived the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in geological refugia. Samples are being collected from a wide spectrum of habitats, from geothermal soils and glacial cryoconite holes to deep marine sediments and subterranean caves. We employ an integrative taxonomic framework, using multi-marker DNA barcoding (18S, ITS2, COI) to resolve phylogenetic relationships, complemented by morphological characterization via Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). This foundational research is expected to significantly expand the known tardigrade fauna of Iceland, providing crucial insights into the colonization and survival of meiofauna in a sub-Arctic, geologically young environment. The results will contribute a vital piece to the puzzle of global tardigrade distribution.