Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Turkish Tardigrade Species and Utilization of Genome Data in Sustainable Agriculture and Medicine

Tardigrades, known as the most resilient animals to extreme conditions, have achieved widespread distribution across diverse geographies due to their survival strategies and resilience, which involve the temporary suspension of their active life. To date, 65 species have been identified in Türkiye, but these identifications have been limited to morphological observations. This planned study aims to address this deficiency by collecting algae samples from designated locations between Antalya and Fethiye (including Kaş-Kalkan) in the Mediterranean region. These samples will be brought to a laboratory for the isolation of the organisms. Morphological identification of the species will be carried out using Phase Contrast and Electron Scanning Microscopy, utilizing their morphological characteristics. First-generation sequencing of conserved regions of the identified species will be used, while whole genome sequences will be determined using second and third-generation sequencing technologies. This method, intended for comparative and complementary purposes, will contribute to the literature as the first genome-level sequence from Türkiye for the "Tardigrada" phylum.