Ecophysiology of Desert Arthropods and Reptiles

1 Introduction.- 2 The Deserts of the World and Their Faunas.- 2.1 Classification of Deserts.- 2.2 Precipitation and Moisture.- 2.3 Exposure.- 2.4 Parallel Evolution, Convergence and Ecological Equivalents.- 2.4.1 Reptilian Examples of Convergence.- 2.4.2 Parallel Evolution Among Lizard Assemblages.- 2.4.3 Arthropodan Examples of Convergence.- 2.5 Energy Flow.- 2.6 Trophic Level Patterns of Process-Functioning.- 2.6.1 Herbivores and Detritivores.- 2.6.2 Carnivores.- 2.6.3 Omnivores.- 2.7 Moisture-Associated Patterns of Process-Functioning.- 2.8 Field Metabolic Rates.- 2.9 Conclusions.- 3 Avoidance of Environmental Extremes.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Desert Microclimates.- 3.3 Circadian Locomotory Rhythms.- 3.3.1 Arthropods.- 3.3.2 Reptiles.- 3.4 Seasonal Rhythms in Locomotory Activity.- 3.4.1 Arthropods.- 3.4.2 Reptiles.- 3.5 Social Behaviour.- 3.6 Conclusions.- 4 Thermal Regulation and Control.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Behavioural Thermoregulation.- 4.2.1 Insect Flight.- 4.2.2 Moving and Shuttling Between Sunlight and Shade.- 4.2.2.1 Arthropods.- 4.2.2.2 Reptiles.- 4.2.3 Posture and Orientation.- 4.3 Thermal Tolerance.- 4.3.1 Heat Tolerance.- 4.3.2 Maxithermy.- 4.3.3 Cold Tolerance.- 4.4 Thermal Control.- 4.4.1 Metabolic Effects.- 4.4.2 Colour and Reflectivity.- 4.5 Responses to Ultraviolet Radiation.- 4.6 The Mechanism of Heat Death.- 4.7 Conclusions.- 5 Water Balance and Nitrogenous Excretion.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Evaporative Water Loss.- 5.2.1 Integumental Transpiration.- 5.2.1.1 Arthropods.- 5.2.1.2 Reptiles.- 5.2.2 Transpiration from Eggs.- 5.2.3 Thermoregulatory Heat Loss.- 5.2.3.1 Flying Insects.- 5.2.3.2 Reptiles.- 5.3 Excretory Water Loss.- 5.4 Osmoregulation.- 5.4.1 Arthropods.- 5.4.2 Reptiles.- 5.5 Behavioural Regulation of Water Loss.- 5.6 Water Uptake.- 5.6.1 Drinking and ‘Fog Basking’.- 5.6.2 Uptake of Soil Moisture.- 5.6.3 Absorption of Atmospheric Moisture.- 5.7 Conclusions.- 6 Seasonal Activity and Phenology.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 The Arthropods of Temporary Rain Pools.- 6.3 Flooding.- 6.4 Diapause, Aestivation and Seasonal Patterns of Activity.- 6.4.1 Arthropods.- 6.4.2 Reptiles.- 6.5 Phenology of Reproduction.- 6.6 Conclusions.- 7 Adaptations for Burrowing in Sand, Avoidance of Enemies and Defence.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Burrowing.- 7.3 Sand Swimming and Sand Running.- 7.3.1 Arthropods.- 7.3.2 Reptiles.- 7.4 Adaptive Colouration.- 7.4.1 Cryptic Colouration.- 7.4.2 Aposematic Colouration.- 7.4.3 Mimicry.- 7.4.4 Warning Sounds and Threat Displays.- 7.5 Defences.- 7.5.1 Urticating Hairs.- 7.5.2 Repellent Chemicals.- 7.5.3 Venoms.- 7.5.4 Autotomy.- 7.5.5 Flight.- 7.5.6 Sensory Physiology.- 7.6 Conclusions.- 8 Interspecific Relationships, Feeding Specializations and Species Diversity.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Food Selection and Consumption.- 8.2.1 Interspecific Competition.- 8.2.2 Intraspecific Competition.- 8.3 Feeding Specializations.- 8.3.1 Detection and Capture of Prey.- 8.3.2 Foraging Tactics of Predators.- 8.3.3 Nature of Reptilian Prey and Its Reproductive Consequences.- 8.4 Species Diversity and Competition.- 8.4.1 Distribution and Abundance of Scorpions.- 8.4.2 Distribution and Diversity of Reptiles.- 8.5 Interacting Factors.- 8.5.1 Partitioning of Resources by Reptiles.- 8.5.2 Body Size and Biomass.- 8.5.3 Interactions Between Animals and Plants.- 8.6 Conclusions.- 9 Final Conclusions.- References.