Desert Mammals Land animals lose water This problem is greater for animals living in hot, dry areas such as deserts as there is little water to replace the lost water Such animals are adapted in a number of ways to survive in such conditions. These adaptations are either 1. Physiological 2. Behavioural
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Desert Mammals Land animals lose water This problem is greater for animals living in hot, dry areas such as deserts as there is little water to replace.
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Desert Mammals
Land animals lose water
This problem is greater for animals living in hot, dry areas such as deserts as there is little water to replace the lost water
Such animals are adapted in a number of ways to survive in such conditions.
These adaptations are either
1. Physiological
2. Behavioural
Low levels of sweat
Low volume urine
Copes with up to 30% water loss – most animals die around 10%
Can drink up to 30% of its body weight when it finds water – 200L in 3 minutes
Can store large amount of water in gut
Special red blood cells can swell up without bursting and shrink without camel dying
Camel can tolerate body temperature changes of more than three times of changes that would kill us
Fat in hump releases water when broken down
Special mechanism keeps brain cool
Camels – Can survive in desert for up to 14 days with no water
Storing heat
• A dehydrated camel will increase its body temperature in an effort to prevent water loss through evaporation.
• The camel can tolerate the high temperatures, and consequently it stores the heat during the day which causes drastic body temperature fluctuations.
• Instead of letting the heat evaporate during the day and thus using water, the camel stores the heat until when the cool night allows for the stored heat in the camel to be released by conduction and diffusion
Brain Cooling
Blood runs around the nasal passages and cools down
before returning back into the body.
Water RegulationWater Regulation• The kidneys regulate water, but this is The kidneys regulate water, but this is
controlled by the brain.controlled by the brain.
• The brain produces The brain produces ANTI-DIURETIC ANTI-DIURETIC HORMONEHORMONE (A.D.H.) (A.D.H.) which controls the which controls the volume of water reabsorbed by the kidney volume of water reabsorbed by the kidney nephrons.nephrons.
• Different volumes of ADH are produced to Different volumes of ADH are produced to suit the varying water conditions of the suit the varying water conditions of the body, ensuring water balance is maintained.body, ensuring water balance is maintained.