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Scarcity of water has brought about a number of structural, behavioural, physiological and ecological adaptations in amphibians inhabiting seasonally xeric habitats.
This book describes structural and functional adaptations of key organs such as skin, kidneys, bladder, lungs and ovaries. Behavioural responses to high temperatures mainly involve thermoregulation and the selection of optimal temperatures and humidity. Special emphasis is placed on physiological adaptations: water, electrolyte, nitrogen, and thermal balance and their endocrine control are treated in detail. Development and metamorphosis, larval competition for food resources, and reproductive strategies are only a few of the exciting topics in the chapter on ecological aspects.
List of contents
1 Introduction.- 2 Xeric Habitats and Their Amphibian Inhabitants.- 2.1 The Habitats.- 3 Structural and Functional Adaptations of Key Organs...- 3.1 Structure and Function of the Integument.- 3.2 Respiratory Organs and Respiration.- 3.3 The Endolymphatic System as Calcium Reserve.- 3.4 Kidney Structure and Function.- 3.5 Structure and Function of the Female Reproductive System.- 4 Receptors, Perception and Behavioural Responses.- 4.1 Photoreception and the Response to Light.- 4.2 Acoustic Behaviour.- 4.3 Olfaction.- 4.4 Selection of Suitable Substrate Moisture and pH..- 4.5 Feeding Behaviour.- 4.6 Locomotory Rhythms and Activity Patterns.- 4.7 Orientation, Homing and Migration.- 4.8 Social Behaviour.- 4.9 Endocrine Control of Behaviour.- 4.10 Learning.- 4.11 Conclusions.- 5 Physiological Adaptations.- 5.1 Water Balance.- 5.2 Body Fluid Osmolality and Ion Concentration....- 5.3 Nitrogen Balance.- 5.4 Endocrine Control of Water, Electrolyte and Nitrogen Balance.- 5.5 Thermal Balance.- 6 Ecological Adaptations.- 6.1 The Aquatic Environment.- 6.2 The Terrestrial Amphibian.- 7 Reflections and Conclusions.- 7.1 Habitat.- 7.2 Structure and Function.- 7.3 Behavioural Responses.- 7.4 Ecological Adaptations.- References.
