Description |
xii, 296 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
Series |
Adaptations of desert organisms |
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Adaptations of desert organisms.
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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.
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Desert animals -- Ecophysiology.
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Mammals -- Adaptation.
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Mammals -- Ecophysiology.
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LC no. |
96032227 |
ISBN |
3540592598 |
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