Avian Desert Predators [Paperback]

Unlike mammals, birds are not particularly well suited to desert life. Among the few types of birds that have successfully adapted to the desert ecosystem are the predators. With individual chapters devoted to each of the different species, the book explores those attributes which make this group suited to desert life, and how they have developed their abilities to cope with the prevailing harsh conditions. This readily accessible volume collates a substantial amount of the latest research on this fascinating subject.Birds are not particularly well suited to desert life. Unlike mammals, they are generally active during the day and do not usually go underground to escape the intense desert heat. Among the few types of birds that have successfully invaded the desert ecosystem are the predators. Many species of hawks, owls, roadrunners, vultures, and shrikes survive very well in deserts. What attributes make this group especially suited to desert life? How have they augmented their abilities to cope with the harsh constraints imposed by the desert habitat? These are among the issues explored in this new volume, which brings together much of the current research on adaptations of avian desert predators.1 Introduction.- 1.1 The Desert Environment.- 1.2 Temperature Regulation in Desert Birds.- 1.2.1 Physiological Cooling.- 1.2.2 Behavioral Cooling.- 1.2.3 Pigmentation.- 1.3 Advantages of a Carnivorous Diet for Desert Survival.- 1.4 Water Conservation in Desert Birds.- 1.4.1 Water Conservation in the Respiratory System.- 1.4.2 Water Conservation in the Kidney.- 1.4.3 Water Conservation in the Digestive System.- 1.4.4 Breeding Cycle Adjusted to Rainfall.- 2 Vultures.- 2.1 Predatory Behavior in Vultures.- 2.1.1 The Desert Scavenger Niche.- 2.1.2 Do Vultures Hunt by Smell or Sight?.- 2.1.3 Nasal Epithelium.- 2.1.4 Defense.- 2.1.5 Breeding Timed to Food Availability.- 2.2 Temperature Regulation in Vultures.- 2.2.1 Soaring as a Means of Temperature Regulation.- 2.2.2 Heat DissilÃ$