Significance and mechanisms of evaporative water loss control by endotherms

该项目计划检验一个新的假设，即哺乳动物和鸟类可以控制并最大限度地减少它们在干燥环境中的蒸发水分损失。水平衡是哺乳动物和鸟类生存的基础。作为总失水量的一大部分，蒸发失水对于干旱生境和正在经历荒漠化和其他生境改变的地区的物种来说尤其关键。在哺乳动物和鸟类中，控制水分流失是一种以前没有得到重视的能力。确定蒸发动态平衡的机制基础将从根本上改变我们对动物功能的认识，并可能帮助我们预测和了解环境变化对澳大利亚动物生存和分布限制的影响。

This project plans to examine the novel hypothesis that mammals and birds can control and minimise their evaporative water loss in dry environments. Water balance is fundamental for the survival of mammals and birds. As a large component of total water loss, evaporative water loss is particularly critical for species in arid habitats and areas undergoing desertification and other habitat modifications. Control of water loss is a previously unappreciated ability in mammals and birds. Determining the mechanistic basis for evaporative homeostasis would fundamentally change our knowledge of animal function, and may help us to predict and understand the effects of environmental change on survival and distribution limits for Australian fauna.