Ecological Physiology of Desert Rodents

沙漠啮齿动物的生态生理学

• 批准号: 9725211
• 负责人: Glenn Walsberg
• 金额: $ 30.5万
• 依托单位: Arizona State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-03-15 至 2002-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9725211&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Ecological; Physiology; Desert; Rodents

Walsberg 9725211 Despite the extraordinary challenges presented by high temperatures and the absence of water, a large number of animals survive without drinking while occupying extreme desert conditions. The goal of this study is to elucidate how the physiology of one important group of such animals allows them to survive desert conditions. Developing this understanding requires addressing three basic questions. (1) What themmal and hydric environments do these animals occupy in nature? (2) How do these animals thermoregulate under such conditions? (3) How do they meet their water requirements? This study will focus upon kangaroo rats, which are small rodents that are among the most conspicuously successful groups of desert mammals. The thermal and hydric conditions experienced by these small mammals in subtropical deserts will be quantified. Physiological analyses will focus upon determining how closely these animals approach their limits of tolerance to dehydration and high environmental temperatures under naturally prevailing conditions. This will include analyses of (a) short-term effects of high environmental temperatures upon body temperature, (b) intemmediate-term effects associated with animal dehydration during activity, and long-temm effects mediated through alterations in the location and timing of animal activity in nature.

Walsberg 9725211 尽管 的 非同寻常的挑战 提出 通过 由于高温和缺水，大量动物得以生存 没有 在占领期间喝酒 极端 沙漠条件。 这项研究的目的是阐明这些动物中的一个重要群体的生理学如何使它们在沙漠条件下生存。要形成这种认识，需要解决三个基本问题。(1)这些动物在自然界中处于什么样的热湿环境？(2)在这种条件下，这些动物是如何调节体温的？(3)如何满足他们的用水需求？ 这项研究将集中在袋鼠鼠，这是一种小型啮齿动物，是沙漠哺乳动物中最成功的群体。 这些小型哺乳动物在亚热带沙漠中所经历的热量和水分条件将被量化。生理分析的重点是确定这些动物在自然条件下对脱水和高环境温度的耐受极限有多接近。 这将包括分析（a）高环境温度对体温的短期影响，（B）与动物活动期间脱水相关的中期影响，以及通过自然界中动物活动的位置和时间改变介导的长期影响。