Podcast
Questions and Answers
What type of factors are studied to determine the health of streams in two watersheds?
Which of the following would NOT be an abiotic factor in determining stream health?
What is the primary purpose of studying abiotic factors in streams?
Which two watersheds are being compared in the study?
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Why is it important to study streams in two different watersheds?
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What is a common strategy used by desert mammals to cope with high daytime temperatures?
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What is a common feature of a white-throated wood rat's den?
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Why do some birds and mammals seek out cool microclimates?
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What is a behavior exhibited by a javelina during the summer?
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What is a type of microclimate that a pallid bat may seek out during the day?
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What is a common time period when day-active birds are most active?
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What is the primary function of water in the living process of birds and mammals?
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What is the term used to describe the water produced by animals when they metabolize food?
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Which of the following desert animals is able to survive without free water or moist food?
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What is the adaptation of some desert plants that allows them to survive dry periods?
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What is the strategy adopted by some desert animals to conserve energy during dry periods?
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What is the term used to describe the plants that can absorb dew as their main water source?
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Study Notes
Desert Adaptations of Birds and Mammals
- Desert ecosystems are characterized by extreme temperatures (freezing to over 100°F/38°C) and limited water availability.
- Birds and mammals have developed adaptive strategies to cope with these conditions, including avoidance, seeking cool microclimates, and water income and water expense.
Avoidance Strategies
- Many desert mammals are most active at dusk and dawn to avoid high daytime temperatures.
- Examples: bobcat, javelina, and some day-active birds.
- Some mammals, such as ringtails and kangaroo rats, are never active during the day.
- Animals may seek out cool microclimates to escape the heat.
- Examples: cactus wren resting in the shade of a jojoba, prairie falcon nesting on a cool north-facing cliff, and pallid bat resting in a cool, deep crevice.
Water Income and Water Expense
- Water is essential for birds and mammals, serving as a transport medium for nutrients, and for dilution and removal of body wastes.
- Water functions in chemical reactions, and is the body's primary coolant.
- The water-budget balancing act of desert animals is like balancing a bank account: water income vs. water expense.
- Water income can come from:
- Free water (e.g., drinking at a water hole)
- Water in food (e.g., eating a juicy mistletoe berry)
- Oxidation water (produced when metabolizing food)
- Water expenses can come from:
- Evaporative cooling
- Dilution and excretion of toxic body wastes
- Feces, and eggs or milk
Other Adaptations
- Some desert plants can absorb dew, which is their main water source.
- Examples: mosses, lichens, and some flowering plants (resurrection plants).
- Desert plants can survive dry periods through underground organs, such as bulbs, tubers, or rhizomes.
- Some plants can remain physiologically active during dry periods.
- Desert animals have adaptations to infrequent moisture availability, such as:
- Little activity during dry times, and intense activity during brief wet periods.
- Remaining underground in holes or burrows during dry conditions.
- Some animals, like snails, can remain dormant for long periods.
- Others, like burrowing animals, can slow down their metabolism during dry periods to conserve energy.
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Description
Determine the health of streams in two watersheds by studying two crucial abiotic factors. This quiz helps you understand the importance of these factors in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Test your knowledge and learn more about environmental science!
