Chapter 30 Outline
Desert and Dry-Savanna Environments
The Relations of Animals to Water
- Large body size is a physiological advantage in terms of water costs
- Coexisting species are diverse in their relations to drinking water
- Water conflicts threaten animals and people
- All species of large herbivores require considerable amounts of preformed water
- Water and food resources in the deserts and dry savannas are often complex
The Dramatic Adaptations of Particular Species
- Oryxes represent the pinnacle of desert survival
- Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles differ in their relations to water
- The sand gazelle is drinking-water-independent in hyperarid deserts
- The dromedary camel does not store water, but conserves it and tolerates profound dehydration