Vertebrate Ecophysiology: Survival in deserts

摘要: The desert environment is one traditionally viewed as being ‘inhospitable’ from an anthropomorphic (i.e. human) point of view. Many vertebrate animals, however, live and reproduce there successfully the study many adaptations – morphological, physiological behavioural that make this a possibility has occupied comparative physiologists ecophysiologists for decades. Every continent world contains desert, including Arctic Antarctic, which are classified semi-arid deserts, it interest to note, shown in Figure 6.1, world's deserts include large areas ocean adjacent each continent. major physiographic environmental characteristics both hot cold, have been summarised by Bradshaw (1986) interesting rainfall comparisons terms predictability constancy (as defined Colwell, 1974) given Low (1978), showing Australian lowest probability rainfall. Soil fertility another important factor limiting productivity arid situations; 6.2 compares nitrogen phosphorus concentrations soils various parts world, those South Africa Australia far least fertile therefore expected (Stafford Smith Morton, 1990).