Cross-tolerance in Belgica antarctica near Palmer Peninsula

Protective mechanisms that confer protection to one type of environmental stressor can sometimes confer protection to stressors of different natures, which is a physiological response to stress called Cross-tolerance. Cross-tolerance has been shown in organisms of multiple orders, including Dipterans. Belgica antarctica is an extremely resilient animal and is able to withstand many types of stress that can occur both isolated and at the same time. Recently, it has been demonstrated that brief exposure to a modest level of a stressor can improve their tolerance to severe levels of multiple other stressors. This study had the objective of building on these results and investigate how their response to severe stress changes (either improve or reduce tolerance) to a long-term acclimation to modest level of stressors.