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Responses of Microcrustaceans to Simulated Microgravity (2D-Clinorotation) - Preliminary Assessments for the Development of Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS)

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Abstract

Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) are an endeavor to create environments able to maintain human life e.g. on future long-duration space missions like flights to Mars. Based on cyclic biological processes, these systems will be independent from material resupply (such as food, water and oxygen). Due to their central role in limnic ecosystems, herbivorous microcrustaceans could act as key player in aquatic BLSS as they link oxygen liberating, autotrophic producers like algae to higher trophic levels, such as fish. However, before such BLSS can be utilized in space, organisms inhabiting these systems have to be studied thoroughly to disclose the gravitational impact on the biological processes. This is possible in real microgravity, but requires high financial resources, is opportunity-limited or periods of microgravity are very short. Yet, cost-effective and almost permanently accessible tools for gravitational research are ground-based facilities (GBFs), providing simulated microgravity. Among those GBFs is the so called 2D-clinostat. In the present study we demonstrate, that rotation of clinostat tubes does not generate acceleration in form of (predator resembling) small scale turbulence, which can be perceived by Daphnia cucullata. Additionally, embryonal development is not disturbed in subitaneous eggs of Daphnia magna and resting eggs of the ostracod Heterocypris incongruens (besides through restrictions in space within the narrow clinostat tubes), just as subsequent hatching from the respective eggs. Hence, our results indicate that clinorotation is a suitable method to simulate microgravity for microcrustaceans.

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Acknowledgments

The present investigation was financially supported by Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi) and Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR, German Aerospace Center, Grant No. 50WB1020 and 50WB1329), as well as the European Space Agency Ground-Based Facilities Program (ESA-GBF-program, contract No. 4000103571). The authors gratefully acknowledge that this study forms part of the PhD thesis of Jessica Fischer supported by Helmholtz Space Life Sciences Research School. Also bachelor students and trainees contributed to this study: Annika Olsen carried out the hatching experiments of Daphnia eggs and embryonal development investigation. She also clinorotated D. cucullata to test for characteristics of turbulence-induction. Julia Holzhäuer carried out the experiment with the ostracod H. incongruens. Francois Korbmacher provided the image of the submersed 2D-clinostat. Isabella Schrank assisted in image preparation. Benjamin Trotter and Kathrin Otte and Isabella Schrank proofread the manuscript.

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  1. Animal Ecology I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany

    Jessica Fischer, Kathrin Schoppmann, Miriam Knie & Christian Laforsch

  2. Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany

    Christian Laforsch

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  1. Jessica Fischer
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Correspondence to Christian Laforsch.

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Fischer, J., Schoppmann, K., Knie, M. et al. Responses of Microcrustaceans to Simulated Microgravity (2D-Clinorotation) - Preliminary Assessments for the Development of Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS). Microgravity Sci. Technol. 28, 337–344 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-015-9470-9

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