Adaptive Radiation in Antarctic Notothenioids

• Main Author: Alsip, Laura
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Proceedings of Manitoba's Undergraduate Science and Engineering Research 2018
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://ojs.lib.umanitoba.ca/index.php/pmuser/article/view/631; https://doi.org/10.5203/pmuser.201841631

Antarctic notothenioids have undergone adaptive radiation in order to survive. Some challenges notothenioids face includes maintaining proper organ function, increased blood viscosity, maintaining appropriate protein levels, and conserving energy. Many of the solutions that the Notothenioidei have evolved to these challenges are considered to be ‘disadaptations’, as they are typically only advantageous under these unique environmental conditions. This paper explores the mechanisms used by the Notothenioidei to survive the Antarctic waters, despite all the environmental pressures.