Distribution and behavior of ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska
The ice worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus ssp. rainierensis, is the only known annelid that survives in glacier ice. We report the locations of eight ice worm populations in south-central Alaska, including the northern- and western-most extent of known ice worm habitation. All ice worms identified in t...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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2001
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z01-143 2024-09-30T14:21:48+00:00 Distribution and behavior of ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska Shain, Daniel H Mason, Tarin A Farrell, Angela H Michalewicz, Lisa A 2001 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z01-143 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z01-143 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 79, issue 10, page 1813-1821 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 2001 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z01-143 2024-09-12T04:13:22Z The ice worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus ssp. rainierensis, is the only known annelid that survives in glacier ice. We report the locations of eight ice worm populations in south-central Alaska, including the northern- and western-most extent of known ice worm habitation. All ice worms identified in this study inhabit coastal glaciers proximal to the Gulf of Alaska. They were found in a variety of habitats including level snowfields, steep avalanche cones, crevasse walls, glacial rivers and pools, and hard glacier ice. Ice worms were not found on all coastal glaciers nor were they found in Alaska's interior (the Alaska Range). Ice worms on Byron Glacier, Alaska, totaled ~30 million and were distributed on seven distinct avalanche cones. They displayed a diurnal cycle, appearing on the glacier surface several hours before sunset and penetrating back into the glacier shortly after sunrise. Experiments suggest that ice worms preferentially penetrate the glacier beneath surface algae, Chlamydomonas nivalis, to a depth between 15 and 100 cm and resurface at a proximal location. Lateral movement of ice worms on the glacier surface can reach speeds of ~3 m/h. Ice worms on Byron Glacier avoided light, but did not respond preferentially to different wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Finally, ice worms displayed an unexpected attraction to heat. Article in Journal/Newspaper alaska range glacier glaciers Alaska Canadian Science Publishing Gulf of Alaska Canadian Journal of Zoology 79 10 1813 1821 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
The ice worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus ssp. rainierensis, is the only known annelid that survives in glacier ice. We report the locations of eight ice worm populations in south-central Alaska, including the northern- and western-most extent of known ice worm habitation. All ice worms identified in this study inhabit coastal glaciers proximal to the Gulf of Alaska. They were found in a variety of habitats including level snowfields, steep avalanche cones, crevasse walls, glacial rivers and pools, and hard glacier ice. Ice worms were not found on all coastal glaciers nor were they found in Alaska's interior (the Alaska Range). Ice worms on Byron Glacier, Alaska, totaled ~30 million and were distributed on seven distinct avalanche cones. They displayed a diurnal cycle, appearing on the glacier surface several hours before sunset and penetrating back into the glacier shortly after sunrise. Experiments suggest that ice worms preferentially penetrate the glacier beneath surface algae, Chlamydomonas nivalis, to a depth between 15 and 100 cm and resurface at a proximal location. Lateral movement of ice worms on the glacier surface can reach speeds of ~3 m/h. Ice worms on Byron Glacier avoided light, but did not respond preferentially to different wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Finally, ice worms displayed an unexpected attraction to heat. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Shain, Daniel H Mason, Tarin A Farrell, Angela H Michalewicz, Lisa A |
spellingShingle |
Shain, Daniel H Mason, Tarin A Farrell, Angela H Michalewicz, Lisa A Distribution and behavior of ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska |
author_facet |
Shain, Daniel H Mason, Tarin A Farrell, Angela H Michalewicz, Lisa A |
author_sort |
Shain, Daniel H |
title |
Distribution and behavior of ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska |
title_short |
Distribution and behavior of ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska |
title_full |
Distribution and behavior of ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska |
title_fullStr |
Distribution and behavior of ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska |
title_full_unstemmed |
Distribution and behavior of ice worms ( Mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central Alaska |
title_sort |
distribution and behavior of ice worms ( mesenchytraeus solifugus) in south-central alaska |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z01-143 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z01-143 |
geographic |
Gulf of Alaska |
geographic_facet |
Gulf of Alaska |
genre |
alaska range glacier glaciers Alaska |
genre_facet |
alaska range glacier glaciers Alaska |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 79, issue 10, page 1813-1821 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z01-143 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
79 |
container_issue |
10 |
container_start_page |
1813 |
op_container_end_page |
1821 |
_version_ |
1811642998527623168 |