Behavioural Adaptations Of Desert Animals

After a brief survey of biotopic and vegetational features and an account of the main groups of desert animals, the most unusual patterns of the behaviour of the xerophilous fauna are examined. The importance of the thermohygric regulation and self-protective and locomotor mechanisms to the survival of arid-adapted animals is emphasized and various adaptations in the alimentary, reproductive and social spheres are analyzed. The clear and fluent treatment will awaken the interest of the reading public, from the amateur naturalists to research scientists.

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 Prof. 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 selection, 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.

Physiological Adaptations: Desert and Mountain discusses the bodily modifications of different animals accordingly to desert and mountain environments. Covered in this book are the basic concepts of physiological adaptations; biophysical principles of acclimization to heat; partitional calorimetry in the desert; the mechanism of sweat in relation to heat; the effects of heat on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems; and the nutritional and metabolic aspects in relation to heat. The book also covers the effects of altitude on work performance; the physiology of respiration at altitude; and the body fluids, body composition, and metabolic aspects of high-altitude adaptation. The text is recommended for biologists and natural historians who would like to know more about how animals that have deserts and mountains as habitats adapt and survive.

The Evolution of Desert Adaptations. 190 A Comparison of Behavior Patterns. . 196 A Comparison of Behavior Patterns in: Meriones, Gerbillus and Perognathus . . . . . 210 Spacing and Communication 217 Acknowledgements 221 References . . . . . . . . 221 XI. Activity Patterns ofa Desert Rodent by N. R. FRENCH 225 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 The Microdosimeter and the Index of Activity. 227 Variation in Activity. . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Climatological Variables and Animal Activity . 229 Analysis . 232 Discussion 237 Summary 238 References 239 XII. Patterns of Food, Space and Diversity by M. L. ROSENZWEIG, BARBARA SMIGEL & A. KRAFT. 241 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . 241 Resource Allocation by Seed Selection 242 Habitat Selection in Space . . . . . 251 The Pattern of Local Species Diversity 260 Acknowledgements 266 References . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 XIII. Desert Coloration in Rodents by D. L. HARRISON. 269 Introduction . . . 269 Desert Coloration . 269 Acknowledgements 275 References . . . . 275 XIV. The Biology of so:me Desert-Dwelling Ground Squ- rels by A. C. HA WBECKER . 277 Introduction . 277 Reproduction. . . . . . 279 Food Habits . . . . . . 288 Population Characteristics 294 Habitat Factors . 297 References . . . . . . . 302 IX xv. Reproductive Biology of North ADlerican Desert Rodents by H. D. SMITH & C. D. JORGENSEN. 305 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 Reproductive Biology: Species Summaries. . . 308 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 XVI. Rodent Faunas and EnvironDlental Changes in the Pleistocene of Israel by E. TCHERNOV . . . . . . . 331 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 The Main Biogeographical Changes in the Near-East since the Miocene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 The Composition of the Rodents Faunas in the Pleistocene of Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336 The Main Ecological Changes in the Quarternary of Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Benefit from Chapter Wise & Section wise Question Bank Series for Class 12 CBSE Board Examinations (2022) with our Most Likely CBSE Question Bank for Biology. Subject Wise books designed to prepare and practice effectively each subject at a time. Our Most Probable Question Bank highlights the knowledge based and skill based questions covering the entire syllabus including One Word Answers, Expansion of Abbreviations, MCQs, Definitions, Very Short Answers, Assertion and Reason Based Questions, Short Answers, Long Answers - I, Long Answers - II, Source and Passage Based Questions, Reasoning Based Questions, Diagramatic Questions, Differentiate Between, Evaluation and Analysis Based Questtions, Case Based Questions, and Test Your Knowledge, Our handbook will help you study and practice well at home. How can you benefit from Gurukul Most Likely CBSE Biology Question Bank for 12th Class? Our handbook is strictly based on the latest syllabus prescribed by the council and is categorized chapterwise topicwise to provide in depth knowledge of different concept questions and their weightage to prepare you for Class 12th CBSE Board Examinations 2022. 1. Focussed on New Objective Paper Pattern Questions 2. Includes Solved Board Exam Paper 2020 for both Delhi and outside Delhi (Set 1-3) and Toppers Answers 2019 3. Previous Years Board Question Papers Incorporated 4. Visual Interpretation as per latest CBSE Syllabus 5. Exam Oriented Effective Study Material provided for Self Study 6. Chapter Summary for Easy & Quick Revision 7. Having frequently asked questions from Compartment Paper, Foreign Paper, and latest Board Paper 8. Follows the Standard Marking Scheme of CBSE Board Our question bank also consists of numerous tips and tools to improve study techniques for any exam paper. Students can create vision boards to establish study schedules, and maintain study logs to measure their progress. With the help of our handbook, students can also identify patterns in question types and structures, allowing them to cultivate more efficient answering methods. Our book can also help in providing a comprehensive overview of important topics in each subject, making it easier for students to solve for the exams.

"Simple text and photographs describe desert animal adaptations"--Provided by publisher.

The exigencies of life in the desert environment have resulted in the se lection of a diversity of adaptations, both morphological and physiologi cal, in the flora and fauna. At the same time, many plants and most small animals are able not merely to exist but even to thrive under desert conditions - mainly by avoiding thermal extremes and by the refine ment of pre-existing abilities to economise in water. In the same way, the biotic interactions of the flora and fauna of the desert do not involve many new principles. Nevertheless, conditions in arid regions frequently do invoke refinements of the complex interrelations between predators and their prey, parasites and their hosts, as well as between herbivores and the plants upon which they feed. In this book, I shall discuss not only such interactions and their feedback effects, but also community processes and population dynamics in the desert. The physical conditions of the desert that principally affect predators and their prey are its openness and the paucity of cover. This is re stricted to scattered plants, occasional rocks, holes, and crevices in the ground. Furthermore, nightfall does not confer relative invisibility, as it does in many other ecobiomes, because of the clarity of the atmosphere. The bright starlight of the desert renders nearby objects visible even to the human eye, while an incandescent moon bathes the empty landscape with a flood of silver light. Consequently, adaptive coloration is func tional at all hours of the day and night.

1. It is designed in accordance with the latest guidelines laid by NCERT for classes 1 to 8. 2. Aims to inculcate inquisitiveness and passion for learning. 3. The chapters are designed in a manner that leads to comprehensive learning of concepts, development of investigative and scientific skills and the ability to probe into problems and find a possible solution. 4. The content of the series is supported by alluring illustrations and attractive layout to lend to the visual appeal and also to enhance the learning experience. 5. A clear comprehensive list of learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter 6. A Kick off activity at the beginning of each chapter to set the pace for learning 7. Hand-on activities presented using the scientific methodology of having a clear aim and materials required along with recording and discussing the task at hand 8. A section on ‘In Real Life’ at the end of each chapter imparts value education and helps the learners become a better citizen 9. Evaluation tools in the form of test papers and model test papers in classes 1 to 5 and periodic assessments, half yearly paper and a yearly paper in classes 6 to 8.