Freeze tolerance
ØSeveral mechanisms at work:
¯ Nucleation agents. These agents take control of the freezing process. Encourage freezing. Nucleators can be bacteria in skin or gut or nucleating proteins in the blood.
Cryoprotective compounds. As the
first ice crystals come in contact with the animal, water is drawn from the cells.
Ultimately, what is left inside each cell is a sugar alcohol Òanti freezeÓ.
Inherent ability of these animals
to resist structural damage from ice crystal formation within the body. Cells are resistant
to damage from massive dehydration.