Desert Life

Question 1

How can an animal gain water?

Answer 1

Drinking
Uptake via body surfaces from water or air
From water contained in food
Metabolic water production

Question 2

How can an animal lose water?

Answer 2

Evaporation from body surfaces or respiration
Faeces
Urine
Specialised secretions

Question 3

What are the percentage losses and gains of water in the Marriams kangaroo rat?

Answer 3

Losses:
Evaporation: 70%
Urine: 25%
Faeces: 5%

Gains:
Oxidation of water: 90%
Free water in food: 10%
Drinking: 0%

Question 4

What are the three strategies of animals in the desert?

Answer 4

1. Evaders
2. Evaporators
3. Endurers

Question 5

What kind of animals are evaders?

Answer 5

Soft bodied invertebrates, ectothermic vertebrates and small vertebrate endotherms

All are small

Question 6

What are some examples of evading?

Answer 6

Burying in sand

Reducing contact on sand

Only coming out at night

Question 7

What sort of animals are evaporators?

Answer 7

Medium sized animals

Birds, dogs, cats, humans

Question 8

How do evaporators deal with desert life?

Answer 8

Dependent on reasonable water supply

Use panting or sweating

Use of carotid rete

Produce hyperosmotic urine

Migrate to follow patchy water sources

Question 9

What sort of animals are endurers?

Answer 9

Large endothermic animals

Question 10

How do endurers deal with desert life?

Answer 10

Inactive during the day 
Use of behaviours mechanisms 
Adapted to overheating 
Hyperosmotic urine 
Well developed carotid rete 
Choose microclimates with lower temps 
Peak in activity when it’s wet