Animal life in deserts, a study of the fauna in relation to the environment

Buxton, P. A.

doi:10.5962/bhl.title.30126

Cited by 36 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…Past attacks upon the concept of protective coloration have not recognized the necessity of compromise in adaptation. For example, in the arguments of Buxton ( 1923) against the theory of protective coloration, which are commonly quoted by more recent opponents of the theory, he says:…”

Section: Adaptive Compromise and Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…From time to time a few naturalists have contested the idea that background color-matching exists and is developed by natural selection (Bodenheimer 1954;Buxton 1923;Heikertinger 1933;McAtee 1932). The work of many others seems to show for a variety of species the importance to survival of fur or skin coloration resembling the backgrounds upon which these animals live (e.g., Benson 1933;Blair 1941Blair , 1947Carrick 1936;Cott 1940;Dice and Blossom 1937;Ford 1937Ford , 1945Hasebroek 1934;Justice 1956;Klauber 1939;Meinertzhagen 1924;Sumner 1921Sumner , 1934Sumner , 1935.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Analysis of Background Color-Matching in Amphibians and Reptiles

Norris¹,

Lowe²

1964

Ecology

154

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The colors of living amphibians and reptiles have been studied, using a General Electric recording reflectance spectrophotometer. The animals were brought to activity temperature levels and the appropriate surface pressed over the reflectance port of the machine while a color record was taken. Background samples from the localities at which the animals were taken were also recorded. Reptiles and amphibians living on backgrounds of relatively uniform color tend to match that background through superposition with considerable fidelity. The animal's color curve is superimposed over that of the background. Ventral color in most forms tested was lighter than the dorsal surfaces of the same animal. It was darker only in some forest—dwelling salamanders and in desert lava—dwelling species. The difference results primarily from the highly reflective ventral surfaces of these forms. The ventral surfaces of white—bellied amphibia show clear oxyhaemoglobin absorption peaks, as do the dorsal surfaces of some amphibia. These effects are entirely absent in curves recorded from reptiles. It is concluded that the degree of background color—matching is related to: (a) the degree of color uniformity of the animal's background, (b) the degree of exposure of the color—matched species to predator, (c) the illumination level prevalent in the habitat, (d) the size range of the color—matched species, (e) the ecological restriction of the species, (f) the qualities of the visual apparatus of predators upon the species, and (g) the adaptive compromise struck by the species. The size of a color—matched animal, or the size of the part of its body that is normally exposed, is related to the point at which such color—matching breaks down. This point of just noticeable difference between animal and background is also determined by the wave—length discrimination curves of the predators, the closeness of the match involved, the uniformity of the background color and its texture, and the presence of absence of concealing patterns. Background color—matching varies greatly in its degree of perfection. This variation is the result of adaptive compromise and balance between this adaptive characteristic and many others that in one way or another affect its complete expression.

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Section: Adaptive Compromise and Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of Background Color-Matching in Amphibians and Reptiles

Norris¹,

Lowe²

1964

Ecology

154

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“…Buxton (1923) broached the problem of the water relations of desert-inhabiting birds and mammals, and suggested that some species might depend upon metabolic water. Buxton (1923) broached the problem of the water relations of desert-inhabiting birds and mammals, and suggested that some species might depend upon metabolic water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Buxton (1923) broached the problem of the water relations of desert-inhabiting birds and mammals, and suggested that some species might depend upon metabolic water. Apparently as a It has long been known that in arid regions many small vertebrates, particularly lizards and rodents, are able to maintain dense populations in the complete absence of drinking water (Buxton, 1923). Apparently as a It has long been known that in arid regions many small vertebrates, particularly lizards and rodents, are able to maintain dense populations in the complete absence of drinking water (Buxton, 1923).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Water Economy of Land Birds

Bartholomew

Cade

1963

The Auk

265

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JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. University of California Press and AmericanOrnithologists' Union are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Auk. result of Stresemann's brief summary, there was a flurry of interest in this field for a time before the war. For example, Gordon (1934) outlined a number of problems which are still current. Allard (1934) added a few pertinent observations, and Schildmacher (1936) reported on the survival times of several European finches when maintained on various salt solutions and dilutions of sea water.In America, the pioneer quantitative and experimental works of Kendeigh (1939; 1944) on evaporative water loss in the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), and those of his student Seibert (1949) on water consumption of White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrickia albicollis), House Sparrows, and Slate-colored Juncos (Junco hyemalis), supplemented the more naturalistic studies of Vorhies (1928; 1945) on water deprivation of Gambel's Quail (Lophortyx gambelii) and Harlequin Quail (Cyrtonyx mo-ntezumae) and of Sumner (1935) and Stoddard (1931) on the use of succulent vegetation as a source of water by California Quail (Lophortyx californicus) and Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), respectively. Although very astute inferences about the water relations of birds based on natural history observation have occasionally appeared in the literature (see, for example, Grinnell and Miller, 1944), we know of no other quantitative or experimental studies on the water economy of wild land birds prior to 1950.Nature of the problem.-Our goal in investigating the water economy of birds is to gain an understanding of how birds obtain and utilize water in the diverse, and often extremely challenging, environments which they successfully occupy. Such an understanding can be attained only if birds are treated as integrated and functioning organisms adapted to their environments. It cannot be sought solely in terms of natural history, or of physiology, or of anatomy, or of behavior. The role of each of these aspects of the performance of the organism in the total pattern of its life must be assayed. From the standpoints of ecology and behavior it is important to find out how birds acquire water from the environment and how the natural conditions under which birds exist determine their needs for water. From the standpoints of physiology and anatomy, it is necessary to quantify the capacities and limitations of birds with respect to maintaining water balance under given environmental conditions. This quantification requires information on water-conserving mechanisms, rates of water exchange with the environment, systems of fluid transport, and mech...

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“…Further, there is some evidence that water transport may be independent from Na+ transport since water uptake can occur even when sodium transport has been blocked by choline esterase inhibitors or by exposing animals to modified Ringer's solutions, in which the Na+ ion has been replaced by either choline or magnesium [K ir sc h n e r , M axw ell and F lem in g, 1960; D e y r u p, 1964], Turning now to the bladder, this organ plays an important part in water balance, for water, sodium and other ions can be absorbed from it. Beside the observation of Buxton [1923] that the Australian desert frog, Cyclorana platycephalus, stores water in its bladder during the rainy season for use during the dry months of the year, Steen [1929] showed that in frogs with ligated cloaca dehydrated either by immersion in I % NaCI solution or by expo sure to dry air, little urine was found in their bladder. Similar observations have been made by other authors.…”

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confidence: 99%

The Skin and Bladder of Amphibians as Models for the Mammalian Nephron

Dicker¹

1970

Horm Res Paediatr

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Properties of the skin and bladder of amphibians have been reviewed and compared with those of the nephrons of mammals. Though the skin and the bladder have proved to be useful models for the understanding of problems of permeability of the most distal parts of the nephron, they must be treated with caution, since from evidence derived from micropuncture techniques there are some important differences, which are discussed.

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Animal life in deserts, a study of the fauna in relation to the environment

Cited by 36 publications

References 0 publications

An Analysis of Background Color-Matching in Amphibians and Reptiles

An Analysis of Background Color-Matching in Amphibians and Reptiles

The Water Economy of Land Birds

The Skin and Bladder of Amphibians as Models for the Mammalian Nephron

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