strategy
Shivering muscles produce heatArctic bumblebees
The thoracic flight muscles of Arctic bumblebees generate heat by shivering.
strategy
Dehydration helps survive freezingArctic springtail
The body of the Arctic springtail protects from freezing temperatures via protective dehydration.
strategy
Branches protect plant from windArctic willow
Stems and branches of Arctic willow protect from strong winds via horizontal growth.
idea
Polar Thermos CozyKatie Goldstone
Heat trapping system for thermoses
strategy
Compounds protect from extreme colda collembola
The body of Cryptopygus antarcticus functions in extreme cold via anti-freeze compounds.
strategy
Tusks sense chemicalsNarwhal
The tusks of male narwhals may detect chemicals related to ice formation, salinity, or prey using a vast network of fluid-filled tubules connected to the tusk's central nerve.
strategy
Habitat stores carbonwetlands
Wetlands store carbon by having a slow decomposition rate.
strategy
Plant poison neutralizes digestive juicescotton grass
The poison produced by cotton grass protects them from lemmings by neutralizing digestive juices, leading to lemming starvation.
strategy
Red pigment protects against UV rayssnow algae
Snow algae protects against UV damage via a red carotenoid pigment.
strategy
Flowers accommodate short growing seasonalpine snowbell
Flowers of the alpine snowbell flourish during a short growing season by forming buds in late summer and keeping them dormant through the cold winter.
strategy
Biological processes continue at glacial temperaturesice worm
Physiological processes in ice worms allow them to survive and function in glacial ice thanks to an increase in adenylate nucleotides and other metabolic adaptations.
strategy
Down feathers insulateking eider
The down feathers of eider ducks provide insulation due to lack of barbules and ability to fluff.
strategy
Algae protects from freezingsnow algae
The liquid cell contents of snow algae are kept liquid in freezing temperatures because the algae manufacture their own antifreeze.
strategy
Protein channels move water across membranescells
Aquaporin protein channels in cell membranes selectively allow polar water molecules to flow through them because they’re lined with specific, charged chemical groups.