"How do gazelles and other large desert mammals adjust their physiology to survive when food and water are in short supply?"
A fascinating new study reveals that sand gazelles in the deserts of Saudi Arabia have evolved the ability to shrink oxygen-demanding organs such as the liver and heart, allowing them to breathe less. Fewer breaths reduce the amount of water lost to respiratory evaporation during prolonged periods of drought -- important because there are few sources of drinking water, so vegetation must be relied upon for both food and water requirements.
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Jun 8, 2006 12:25pm
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