Desert Biology

Special Topics on the Physical and Biological Aspects of Arid Regions

1st Edition - January 1, 1968
Editor: G. W. Brown
Language: English
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 1 - 4 8 3 2 - 2 3 7 1 - 1

Desert Biology: Special Topics on the Physical and Biological Aspects on Arid Regions, Volume I covers the biology, geophysical characteristics, and ways of life in arid regions.… Read more

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Desert Biology: Special Topics on the Physical and Biological Aspects on Arid Regions, Volume I covers the biology, geophysical characteristics, and ways of life in arid regions. This book is composed of 11 chapters, and begins with a brief description of a desert community, the Merkhiyat Jebels, with its diverse fauna and flora. The subsequent chapters look into the climate, geographical distribution, geologic and geomorphic aspects, and the evolution of desert community. These topics are followed by intensive discussions on desert plants, animals, and limnology. The last chapter describes the adaptive processes and human adaptation capacity to arid environments. This book will prove useful to upper division and graduate students in desert biology.

Desert Rain

List of Contributors

Preface

Acknowledgments

Volume II: Topics to be Discussed (Tentative)

Chapter I. The Merkhiyat Jebels: A Desert Community

I. Climate and Vegetation

II. Rain Fauna

III. Mammals

IV. Reptiles

V. Arthropods

VI. Interrelationships

References

Chapter II. Causes, Climates, and Distribution of Deserts

I. Geographical Definitions of Deserts

II. Genetic Classification of Desert Climates

III. Subtropical Deserts

IV. Cool Coastal Deserts

V. Rain Shadow Deserts

VI. Continental Interior Deserts

VII. Polar Deserts

Bibliography

Chapter III. Geologic and Geomorphic Aspects of Deserts

I. Introduction

II. The Desert Landscape

III. Surficial Deposits in Desert Lowlands

IV. Hydrologic Aspects of Desert Basins

V. Desert Soils

VI. Surficial Geological Processes in Desert Regions

VII. Climate Changes in Desert Regions

VIII. Concluding Statement

References

Chapter IV. The Evolution of Desert Vegetation in Western North America

I. Introduction

II. Paleobotanical History of Tertiary and Quaternary Western North America

III. The Vegetation of the Californian Deserts

IV. The California Desert Flora

V. The Origin of the California Desert Flora on Distributional Grounds

VI. Endemism and the Origin of the California Desert Flora

VII. Evidence of Origin from Cytological Evidence

VIII. Conclusions

References

Chapter V. The Biology of Desert Plants

I. Introduction

II. Flora of Deserts

III. Adaptations of Plants to Arid Environments

IV. Desert Cryptogams, Ferns, and Fern Allies

V. Ecological Considerations

References

Chapter VI. Biology of Desert Amphibians and Reptiles

I. Introduction

II. Amphibians

III. Turtles

IV. Lizards

V. Snakes

References

Chapter VII. Temperature Regulation and Water Economy of Desert Birds

I. Introduction

II. Temperature Regulation

III. Water Economy

IV. Adaptations of Breeding Biology

V. Discussion and Summary

References

Chapter VIII. Temperature Regulation in Desert Mammals

I. Introduction

II. Ecological and Evolutionary Considerations

III. Large Herbivorous Mammals

IV. Small and Medium Sized Mammals

V. Carnivorous Mammals

VI. Special Considerations

VII. Summary and Conclusions

References

Chapter IX. Desert Limnology

I. Introduction

II. Physical Features

III. Chemistry of Desert Waters

IV. Productivity

V. Biota of Saline Water

VI. Biota of Temporary Waters

VII. Special Situations

VIII. Endemism, Relictism, and Special Habitats

References

Chapter X. Venoms of Desert Animals

I. Scorpions: Order Scorpionida

II. Spiders: Order Araneida

III. Miscellaneous Desert Arachnids

IV. Venomous Insects

V. Centipedes and Millipedes

VI. Amphibians

VII. Venomous Reptiles

References

Chapter XI. Human Adaptations to Arid Environments

I. The Problems

II. Adaptive Processes

General References

Specific References

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Appendix 4

Author Index

Subject Index

Genus and Species Index