We plan on sampling 12 trees throughout the campus of Michigan State University, collecting lichen both from a higher portion (5 feet above the ground) and a lower portion of the tree (1 foot above the ground). We predict that tardigrades disperse via rain, thus making lower patches of lichen more populated than lichen located higher up on the tree. Through this study, we hope to gain more insight on tardigrade dispersal since the overall information is lacking.

Results: A Chi-Squared Goodness of Fit test showed us that we were unable to reject the null hypothesis, that there is not a significant difference between the number of tardigrades found in low and high locations on trees.

Discussion: Our hypothesis was not supported, as we expected to see a higher number of tardigrades at the base of the tree post rainfall. We actually observed a higher population of tardigrades at the top portion of trees, post rainfall. Our post rainfall data was collected after 3 days of continuous rainfall, so the continuous rain may have washed existing lower portion tardigrades off the tree completely. This resulted in us finding less tardigrades post rainfall low on the trees. Although our hypothesis was not supported, it’s likely that the heavy rain did move tardigrades down the tree. Therefore, rainfall likely affects tardigrade dispersal. Taking samples one day after rainfall would aid in more accurate results. Cryptobiosis is an evolved mechanism that allows tardigrades to survive harsh conditions. Tardigrades are pulled out of cryptobiosis by presence of water. This feature points in the potential direction that tardigrades are dispersed by rainfall as the rainwater will put the tardigrade back into an awakened state.