Difference between revisions of "Template:POTD protected"

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The '''[[Antarctic midge]]''' is a species of flightless midge, endemic to the continent of [[Antarctica]]. At 0.079–0.24 in long, it is the largest purely terrestrial animal on the continent, as well as its only insect. It also has the smallest known insect genome as of 2014, with only 99 million base pairs of nucleotides (and about 13,500 genes).
The '''[[Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station]]''' is a United States scientific research station at the [[South Pole]], the southernmost place on the Earth. The station is located on the high plateau of [[Antarctica]] at an elevation of 2,835 meters (9,301 feet) above sea level and is administered by the Division of Polar Programs within the National Science Foundation under the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).


This species is the [[National Symbols of Westarctica|national insect]] of [[Westarctica]].


To adapt to the cold temperatures, the Antarctic midge accumulates trehalose, glucose, and erythritol. These compounds help the insect survive freezing by reducing the amount of ice that forms within the body. They also stabilize proteins and membranes, binding to them by means of hydrogen bonds. Heat shock proteins also help the tolerance to both high and low temperatures.


It not only tolerates, but also requires a freezing climate to survive: exposure of larvae to mild temperatures as +10 °C is enough to kill them within a week. Exposure to temperatures of +30 °C kills individuals in a few hours. It can, however, resist partial desiccation, surviving the loss of up to 70% of body water.
<p><small>Photo Credit: Daniel Leussler</small></p>
 
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<p><small>Photographer: Tasteofcrayons</small></p>
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Latest revision as of 05:09, 11 July 2026

SouthPoleStationDestinationAlpha.jpg

The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is a United States scientific research station at the South Pole, the southernmost place on the Earth. The station is located on the high plateau of Antarctica at an elevation of 2,835 meters (9,301 feet) above sea level and is administered by the Division of Polar Programs within the National Science Foundation under the United States Antarctic Program (USAP).


Photo Credit: Daniel Leussler

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