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Book Cover
Book
Author Degen, A. Allan, 1946-

Title Ecophysiology of small desert mammals / A. Allan Degen
Published Berlin ; New York : Springer, [1997]
©1997

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Location Call no. Vol. Availability
 W'PONDS  599.052652 Deg/Eos  AVAILABLE
Description xii, 296 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Series Adaptations of desert organisms
Adaptations of desert organisms.
Contents 1. Introduction -- 2. Deserts -- 3. Body Size and Allometry -- 4. Heat Transfer and Body Temperature -- 5. Behavioural Adaptations -- 6. Water Requirements and Water Balance -- 7. Energy Requirements and Energy Flux -- 8. Reproduction
Summary Since small mammals have a large surface to mass ratio, one would expect them to quickly dehydrate and perish at high environmental temperatures. Nonetheless, a large number of small mammal species inhabit deserts. This fascinating phenomenon is investigated by A. Allan Degen in his book. The majority of small desert mammals are rodents, but shrews of several grams and small foxes of 1 kg are also present. Their survival is due mainly to behavioural adaptations and habitat selections, however, physiological adaptations also contribute to the success. Interestingly, many small mammals that live in different deserts of the world show similarities in their adaptive traits although they have different taxonomic affinities
Analysis desert animals adaptation body size allometry heat transfer water balance energy flux reproduction
Notes Bibliography: p263-291. _ Includes index
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages [263]-291) and index
Subject Desert animals -- Adaptation.
Desert animals -- Ecophysiology.
Mammals -- Adaptation.
Mammals -- Ecophysiology.
LC no. 96032227
ISBN 3540592598