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On the Significance of a "Minor" Phylum (The Tardigrada) in the Context of a Constructivist View of Knowledge

The tardigrades—also known as “water bears” or “moss piglets”—are microscopic invertebrates (typically 100 to 500μm long). They exhibit a unique anatomy and so have been designated as a discrete phylum in their own right. Tardigrades are found in a wide range of aquatic habitats (both freshwater and marine), with many found in temporary bodies of water, such as those held in cushions of moss or in soil. Most of the tardigrade species, which inhabit such unpredictable environments, are able to tolerate total desiccation by replacing the water in their bodies with an inert sugar (trehalose) in order to maintain cellular integrity. Such desiccated animals are resistant to environmental extremes and can remain viable for several years. This has generated interest among those who would like to apply this technique to other biological systems that might benefit from dry storage in extreme conditions (e.g., storage of live vaccines in parts of the world where refrigeration is not an option). Though tardigrades have been known for over 200 years, their small size and benign nature means that few observers happen upon them by accident. As a consequence, only about 800 species have been described worldwide, though this number continues to grow at a steady rate. Those who have studied tardigrades know these animals as a source of delight and fascination. Their strange anatomy and remarkable physiology have provided researchers with numerous questions since their discovery—many of which still remain unanswered despite the efforts of an active and dedicated global research community. However, the Tardigrada has often been considered as a relatively unimportant group of invertebrate animals, representing no immediate medical, agricultural, or economic significance. With