Rodents in Desert Environments

Abstract

I. The Desert as a Habitat -- Distribution -- Soils -- Climate -- Vegetation -- References -- II. The Ecology of Rodents in the northern Sudan -- Desert Species -- Jebel Species -- Riverine Species -- Commensal Species -- Reproduction -- Other Adaptations for Life in the Desert -- Discussion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- III. The Rodents of the Iranian Deserts -- The Rodents: northern and southern Types -- Annual Rhythm -- Population Densities -- Some Peculiarities -- References -- IV. Comparative Ecological Notes on Afghan Rodents -- Results -- Discussion -- Summary -- References -- V. The Population Ecology of the Rodents of the Rajasthan Desert, India -- Population Structure -- Ranges of Movements -- Food -- Predator-Prey Relationship -- Breeding Season and Litter Size -- References -- VI. Outbreaks of Rodents in Semi-Arid and Arid Australia: Causes, Preventions, and Evolutionary Considerations -- Climates in Central Australia -- The Study-Area: Habitats and Rodents -- Populations -- Conclusions and Discussion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- VII Observations of Argentine Desert Rodent Ecology, with Emphasis on Water Relations of Eligmodontia typus -- The Argentine Monte and some of its Rodents -- Methods and Materials -- Results and Discussion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- VIII. La diversité des Gerbillidés -- IX. Some Observations on Ecological Adaptations of Desert Rodents and Suggestions for further Research work -- The Desert Environment -- Ecological Adaptations -- Need for further Research -- References -- X. The Behavior Patterns of Desert Rodents -- The Evolution of Desert Adaptations -- A Comparison of Behavior Patterns -- A Comparison of Behavior Patterns in : Meriones, Gerbillus and Perognathus -- Spacing and Communication -- Acknowledgements -- References -- XI Activity Patterns of a Desert Rodent -- Methods -- The Microdosimeter and the Index of Activity -- Variation in Activity -- Climatological Variables and Animal Activity -- Analysis -- Discussion -- Summary -- References -- XII. Patterns of Food, Space and Diversity -- Resource Allocation by Seed Selection -- Habitat Selection in Space -- The Pattern of Local Species Diversity -- Acknowledgements -- References -- XIII. Desert Coloration in Rodents -- Desert Coloration -- Acknowledgements -- References -- XIV. The Biology of some Desert-Dwelling Ground Squirrels -- Reproduction -- Food Habits -- Population Characteristics -- Habitat Factors -- References -- XV. Reproductive Biology of North American Desert Rodents -- Reproductive Biology: Species Summaries -- References -- XVI. Rodent Faunas and Environmental Changes in the Pleistocene of Israel -- The Main Biogeographical Changes in the Near-East since the Miocene -- The Composition of the Rodents Faunas in the Pleistocene of Israel -- The Main Ecological Changes in the Quarternary of Israel -- Analysis of the Main Habitats Occupied by the Pleistocene Rodents of Israel -- Note on the Origin of the Israeli Desert Rodents -- References -- XVII. Prehistoric Rodents of the Middle East -- Prehistoric Rodents -- Discussion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Addenda -- XVIII. Desert Rodents : Physiological Problems of Desert Life -- Problems of Temperature Regulation -- Water Balance, Intake and Loss -- References -- XIX. Ecophysiology of Water and Energy in Desert Marsupials and Rodents -- Methods -- Ecophysiology of Water and Energy -- Discussion -- References -- XX. Thermo-Regulation and Water Economy in Indian Desert Rodents -- Methods -- Thermo-Regulation -- Water Economy -- Conclusion -- References -- XXI. The Physiological Adaptations of Desert Rodents -- Water Conservation in Desert Rodents -- Structure and Concentrating Mechanisms in the Desert Rodent Kidney -- Tolerance to Heat and Thermo-Regulation of Desert Rodents -- Reproduction in Desert Rodents -- References -- XXII. Nematode Parasites of the Indian Desert Rodents -- Material and Methods -- Nematode Parasites of the Indian Desert Rodents -- Discussion -- References -- XXIII. Ecology of the Desert Rodents of the U.S.S.R. (Jerboas and Gerbils) -- Jerboas -- Gerbils -- References -- Author Index -- Genus and Species Index.