Organism Profile - Research Paper

HOT  HEADED  ICE  BORER  PROFILE     1    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organism Profile SCIN 130  

Hot Headed Ice Borer (Kaputfavo  pinguisedo)  Profile  

American Public University System

Author Note

Mali Traven

 

**Note:  This  is  a  hypothetical  example  to  give  you  an  idea  of  how  to   format  your  profile  and  include  the  required  sections.  It  is  not   necessary  to  follow  all  parts  of  this  profile,  as  it  is  an  example.   Include  required  sections  and  information  realizing  that  details  will   depend  on  your  species  and  information  found  in  reference   sources.**  

 

 

   

Notice  the  presence  of  an   appropriate  cover  page,  

page  header,  font,  margin,   paragraph  and  line  spacing  

format.  

 Note  correct   scientific  

nomenclature  

Required  sections  are  an   abstract,  introduction,   background,  life  cycle,   structure  and  function,   evolution,  additional   category,  and  conclusion.    

 

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Abstract  

The hotheaded naked ice borer (Kaputfavo pinguisedo) is a small rodent-like

mammal that lives in the Antarctic tundra and ice sheets. This hairless pink

mammal has a restricted geography and ecology. The hotheaded naked ice borer

lives in colonies that are controlled by a single reproductive queen. The structure

of the hotheaded naked ice borer’s bony plate on the head enables specific

predatory functions. This bony plate structure appears to have recently evolved.

The hotheaded naked ice borer (Kaputfavo pinguisedo) is a fascinating species

with a particular life cycle tied to a colony ecology that possesses a unique bony

plate head structure.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did  you  respond  to  and  fix  issues   identified  in  the  instructor   feedback  for  Assignment  2?  

Topic   Sentence  

Five  main  topics  introduced   (Background,  Life  cycle,   Structure  &  Function,   Evolution,  Additional  

Interests)  

Conclusions  and   Findings  

HOT  HEADED  ICE  BORER  PROFILE     3    

 

Species Profile of the Hot Headed Ice Borer (Kaputfavo pinguisedo)

Introduction

One of the most dubious and unique species recently discovered is the hot

headed ice borer (Kaputfavo pinguisedo). It was first discovered in 1995, during a

wildlife observation and climate change expedition to Antarctica (Folger, 1995).

These creatures have been named after the most significant physical characteristic

of this species: a hot bony plate on the frontal region of the skull (Folger, 1995).

These organisms are mammals in the family Bathyergidae (Van Daele, Faulkes,

Verheyen, & Adriaens, 2007). Kaputfavo pinguisedo can be found on the tundra

flats of Marielandia, British Antarctic Territory, Antarctica. Locally they were

observed near the Larsen Ice Shelf at Exasperation inlet. The tundra climate of

this area ranges from -15 to 0 degrees C and receives 35-50cm of precipitation per

year. In some areas inhabited by K. pinguisedo, the ice sheets are over 7,000 feet

thick (Folger, 1995). The hot headed ice borer is a species with a fascinating

ecology, life history, evolution, behavior, anatomy and physiology.

Background  

One of the most interesting facts about the hot headed ice borer is that it is

a small mammal and yet this species inhabits tundra and polar ice sheet

ecosystems. Adult hot headed ice borers average 6 inches in length; however, the

colony queens are always larger with an average length of 10 inches (Javier &

Did  you  respond  to  and  fix  issues   identified  in  the  instructor  feedback  

for  Assignment  3?  

Common  and   scientific  names  are  

included.  

Note  the  citation   here  –  this  is   appropriate  

because  a  fact   that  is  not  general  

knowledge  is   being  discussed.  

Introduction  should  identify   the  major  sections  of  the   paper  to  provide  a  preview  

of  the  paper.  

General   geographic  

range   explained.  

Specific   location  the   species  is  or  

could   appropriate   be  observed  

by  you.  

Specific  details   about  the   appearance  should   be  cited.  

Specific  biome  is   present  in  the   introduction.  

HOT  HEADED  ICE  BORER  PROFILE     4    

 

Schelty, 2004). Their body shape is long and lanky with a wrinkly appearance of

loose skin. They are mostly hairless mammals that vary in color from pink to

brown (Folger, 1995). The weight of hot headed ice borers ranges on average

from 2-8 ounces yet the largest individual recorded was a female queen at 14

ounces (Folger, 1995). These animals live in a colony in a tunnel structure just

below the surface of the ice. The colony dictates a specific life cycle.

Life cycle  

Hot headed ice borers have a unique life history dictated by their eusocial

colony based reproductive system. Each colony consists of a single reproductive

queen, 2-3 breeding males and usually about 40 workers and soldiers (Jeffries,

2003). The life cycle begins with mating of the queen and breeding males.  

The colony queen enters breeding reception once a year normally in the

summer, which is January-February in Antarctica (Jeffries, 2003). The queen

mates with multiple breeding males and sperm experiences intrauterine

competition as eggs are released. It is unknown how many eggs are released at

this time period; however, litters tend to be between 12-28 pups (Jeffries, 2003).

Embryos directly implant and grow for a period of 70 days at which time the pups

are born (Jeffries, 2003).

Pups are born live and are dependent on the colony for all their needs. As

K. pinguisedo are mammals, the queen initially nurses pups for about 30 days and

then workers feed them for 40 days. At 70 days, the pups are adults (Jeffries,

2003). These adults are smaller size and they build and maintain colony tunnels.

Transition  sentences   should  be  present  to   allow  flow  between   the  sections  of  the  

paper.  

Life  cycle  section  that  describes  most   aspects  of  the  life  cycle  is  included.  

All  specific   information   contains   properly  

formatted  in   text  citation.  

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As individual grow they become larger and take on new roles in the colony.

Soldiers that react to attacks from predators are medium sized individuals. The

largest individuals of the colony are workers that obtain penguin food (Anderson,

Caldwell, & Forman, 2001). When a queen dies there is a physical struggle

between large female workers and dominant female becomes queen and enters

breeding reception within 1 year of the competition. The average life span of

soldiers and workers is 25 years but queens only live, on average, 6 years. It is

thought the shorter life span is due to the stress of yearly reproduction and

production of large litters (Jeffries, 2003).

Structure and Function  

Hot headed ice borers are named after an extreme anatomical feature

found on the front of the skull. The upper front part of the skull is a very strong

bony plate that contains a massive network of blood vessels. A thin skin layer

covers the area. The result of increased circulation and bony plate that acts like a

reflector is a heat producing section at the front of the skull or “hot head” (Javier

& Schelty, 2004). This anatomical structure is used to heat through the ice when

hot headed ice borers are hunting for penguins. They melt the ice directly below a

penguin and then quickly attack the penguin. Pieces of the penguins are

transported back to the colony to feed the queen and all the individuals in the

colony. The hot head is also used in limited situations when tunneling through the

ice building tunnels (Javier & Schelty, 2004). This hot head structure serves

crucial functions for the colony and is a specific evolutionary adaptation.  

A  section  is   included  that   describes  an   anatomical  

structure  and  then   describes  the   function  of  that   structure.  The   function  is  a  

description  of  how   individuals  use  the  

structure.  

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Evolution  

Evolutionary adaptation and classification are ongoing research areas for

this species. Hot headed ice borers are mammals classified in the order Rodentia,

suborder Hystricomorpha, and family Bathyergidae. Scientists have had a difficult

time pinpointing exactly the timing of divergence of K. pinguisedo from close

relatives although current research seeks to find fossils that will help add data to

this question. Based on molecular data it is thought that K. pinguisedo diverged

from relatives about 200 mya (Thompson, 2001).

Molecular based phylogenies show interesting patterns of evolution and

adaptation of K. pinguisedo. Specifically, the bony plate trait of K. pinguisedo

seems to have recently evolved in this species and no close relative share this

trait. The other unique feature of social colony structure has arisen independently

and is similar to distantly related species Cryptomys damarensis and

Heterocephalus africaeaustralis (Van Daele, et al., 2007). This pattern of

evolution is known as convergent evolution where unrelated species evolve the

same trait.  

Additional Interest: Predatory Behavior  

In conjunction with the presence of an interesting trait, the hot bony plate

that is used in predation, K. pinguisedo has specific predatory behavior. There are

17 species of penguins in Antarctica; however, K. pinguisedo preys primarily on

emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) (Folger, 1995). Any size individual can

be prey but the juveniles are particularly susceptible because of their small size.

Hot headed ice borers work together in a group to bore through the ice with their

Areas  that  can  be  discussed  in  the  evolution   section  include  how  the  species  has  changed   over  long  time  scales,  fossil  ancestors,   phylogenies  that  include  the  species,   adaptations  and  their  evolution,  etc.  

This  additional   interest   section  is   required  but   the  topic  is   your  choice.   Describe   something   interesting  you   discovered   while   researching   the  species   that  does  not   fit  into  the   other   categories.    

HOT  HEADED  ICE  BORER  PROFILE     7    

 

hot heads and then when the penguin falls in the water usually about 20

individuals rush onto the penguin to overcome it. This “pack-like” behavior is

very unique in rodents (Tolman, 2005). However, the close colony social system

and constant communication of the hot headed ice borers makes the pack-like

behavior effective and efficient (Folger, 1995). Communication between hot

headed ice borers occurs at an ultrasonic frequency. It is not known if the emperor

penguins can hear this frequency of sound but it is likely they cannot and hence

that is why it is an effective communication frequency. The food web dynamics

are tightly connected between hot headed ice borers, emperor penguins, and fish

and krill (prey of penguins). Fluctuations in hot headed ice borer population sizes

have cascading effects on these other species since it is a top predator, even with

it’s small size since it acts with the colony in pack predation (Tolman, 2005).

Conclusion  

Hot headed ice borers can be found in Antarctica in the tundra and ice

flats. In the 200 million years they have spent on earth, they have evolved a

complex life cycle with a colony social structure, a specialized bony head plate,

and work together in pack-like behavior to prey on emperor penguins. They are

small amazing creatures that are unique in so many ways and the subject to

ongoing scientific research. Hot headed ice borers are potentially the most bogus

and underestimated species known today.

 

The  conclusion   provides  a  recap   or  summary   statements   about  the  

paper.  Large   amounts  of  new   ideas  and  data   are  not  added  in   the  conclusion.  

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References  

Anderson, J. T., Caldwell, E. R., & Forman, G. T. (2001). Life history trade-offs in a eusocial Antarctic dwelling mammal. Artic Research, 68: 263-271.

Folger, T. (1995, April 1). Strange molelike animal melts ice tunnels with its head. Discover Magazine, 135, 28-31.

Javier, V. R., & Schelty, C. A. (2004). A morphological and physiological description of the bony plate in Kaputfavo pinguisedo skulls. Journal of Comparative Anatomy. 23, 453-461.

Jeffries, H. F. (2003). Life history of Kaputfavo pinguisedo observed in Antarctica. Journal of Wildlife Ecology,55, 893-896.

Thompson, J. T. (2001). Evolutionary history of Kaputfavo pinguisedo and associated mole-rats. Evolutionary Ecology, 11(14), 5469-5473.

Tolman, J. (2005). Cascading functional ecology of Kaputfavo pinguisedo in relation to Aptenodytes forsteri. Conservation Ecology and Functional Biology, 33, 478-490.

Van Daele, P. A. A. G., Faulkes, C. G., Verheyen, E., & Adriaens, (2007). African Mole-rats (Bathyergidae): A Complex Radiation in Tropical Soils. In S. Begall, H. Burda, & C. E. Schleich (Eds.), Subterranean Rodents: News from Underground (pp. 357-362). Berlin, DE: Springer.

 

A  minimum  of  5   scientific  references  are   present  and  properly  

formatted.