Amphibian Withstands Freezing

a brown salamamander stands on the wet ground near leaves

Biological Strategy

Siberian salamander

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Protect From Ice

Freezing temperatures can be difficult for living systems to manage. They can cause ice crystals to form in blood and tissues, which causes damage to cells and ultimately, death. Living systems can’t afford the energy required to melt ice crystals, so instead, many have strategies to prevent crystals from forming in the first place. Many amphibians, plants, and insects have chemicals that act as antifreeze to prevent icy crystal formation. Another challenge ice presents is that it creates a slick surface, requiring friction to traverse. This is why polar bears’ paws have a rough surface that grips ice.

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Protect From Temperature

Many living systems function best within specific temperature ranges. Temperatures higher or lower than that range can negatively impact a living system’s physiological or chemical processes, and damage its exterior or interior. Living systems must manage high or low temperatures using minimal energy, which often requires controlling responses along incremental temperature changes. To do so, living systems use a variety of strategies, such as avoiding high or low temperatures, removing excess heat, and holding heat in. Insulation is a well-known example of managing low temperatures by retaining heat using thick layers of hair, fur, or feathers to hold warm air next to the skin.

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Amphibians

Class Amphibia (“to live a double life”): Frogs, salamanders, toads

Amphibians live a “double life” by being able to survive both on land and in water. Unlike reptiles with dry, scaly skin, amphibians have smooth skin that needs to be kept moist. Many live in the water through development and start life with gills, and then transition to breathing with lungs. They can get even more oxygen through cutaneous respiration, or breathing through their skin. This class represents the first animal group to be able to efficiently walk on land—aided by the well-defined limbs that gave them a “leg up” on their finned competitors.

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The body of the Siberian salamander survives extreme cold temperatures via "antifreeze" chemicals.

“Some urodeles can tolerate very low ambient temperatures: the most impressive example is probably the Siberian salamander, Salamandrella keyserlingii, which can survive for prolonged periods at -45° C.” (Fowler and Miller 2003:33-34)

“Sudden frost is a serious problem for the Siberian salamander. It needs time to adapt to the cold and produce the ‘antifreeze’ chemicals that replace water in blood and cells and protect tissues from damage by sharp ice crystals. Some animals use , glycerol and related compounds to protect them from freezing in this way. The exact mechanism in the Siberian salamander is not known.” (Potapov 1993:15)

Last Updated October 14, 2016

References

Book

Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine

ME Fowler, RE Miller

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Reference

“Sudden frost is a serious problem for the Siberian salamander. It needs time to adapt to the cold and produce the ‘antifreeze’ chemicals that replace water in blood and cells and protect tissues from damage by sharp ice crystals. Some animals use glucose, glycerol and related compounds to protect them from freezing in this way. The exact mechanism in the Siberian salamander is not known.” (Potapov 1993:15)

Web page

Science: How salamanders survive the deep freeze

11/09/1993 | E Potapov

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