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Desert Ecology of Tucson, AZ for Bio109
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SELF QUIZ: DESERT ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
Questions | Answers
 

Sources:PowerPoint, Web, text (134-144, 367-372)

1. Endure, Evade, Expire

2. Outline for Enduring

  • Temperature Stress
    • Reduce Heat Input: spines for insulation
    • Dissipate Heat: long extremities
    • Tolerate Hyperthermia: C4 Photosynthesis
  • Water Stress
    • Water Conservation
      • Decrease Cutaneous Water Loss: use waxes in outer covering.
      • Decrease Excretory Water Loss: produce uric acid
      • Decrease Respiratory Water Loss: drought deciduous
    • Tolerate Dehydration: A saguaro can tolerate an 80% reduction in water from the body.

3. Water Storage: succulence, fat storage
Spatial: migration, microclimate selection
Temporal: nocturnal, torpor

4. Uric acid uses 10X less water, but costs additional energy. Birds, snakes, lizards, some insects do this.