The known biodiversity of tardigrades in North America is limited. Less than one-fourth of the known tardigrade species have been recorded in the United States. As part of the NSF-Biotic Surveys and Inventory and Research at Undergraduate Institutions programs we are attempting to expand the known biodiversity of North American Tardigrades by sampling 23 of America’s LTER sites. This work is a collaborative effort between Fresno City College, Baker University, Brigham Young University and the Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia.  

The Andrews LTER site was sampled in the summer of 2007 by a Fresno City College research team. Moss and lichen samples were collected and tardigrades were extracted from the samples. Whole animals of each species encountered were used for microscope slide mounts, Scanning Electron Microscopy and DNA sequencing. We provide a summary of the tardigrade biodiversity at the Andrews LTER site and preliminary molecular analysis using the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I.