Nadja Møbjerg

Current research

My research activities are on animal anatomy and physiology including studies on the evolution of taxa, organs and molecules with focus on renal organs and extracellular fluid homeostasis in Amphibia and Tardigrada. Amphibians with their unique dual lifecycle of aquatic larvae and terrestrial adults are models for structural kidney investigations and identification of transport mechanisms essential for osmoregulation in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Tardigrades are microscopic metazoans living in a range of habitats across the globe. These small animals are famous for their ability to survive extreme conditions, such as desiccation and freezing. Tardigrades may respond to such extremes by entering a form of hidden or latent life called cryptobiosis. This condition is currently believed to involve a reversible suspension of metabolism, and the animal can as such be considered dead - as opposed to death, however, metabolism can be restarted. Even in their active states tardigrades may be extremely tolerant of environmental stress, e.g. handling large fluctuations in external salinity. The anatomical, physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying this amazing ability to adapt to extreme conditions are to date largely unknown. A main area of interest in my group currently comprises investigations on tardigrades with emphasis on osmolyte and water regulation associated with adaptations to extreme environments.

  Bachelor and Master projects

• Projects on cryptobiosis and osmoregulation in tardigrades (in Danish: Bjørnedyr)