Xerophilia
Xerophilia ( ancient Greek ξηρός xerós “dry”, “dry” and φίλος philos “loving”, “friend”) is the property of living beings to prefer dry habitats. Living beings with this property are called xerophilic . Organisms that prefer dry, warm habitats are called xerothermophilic .
Animals
In xerophilic animals, a distinction is made between two types according to the presence or absence of perspiration protection:
- The locust type has no mechanisms to restrict perspiration and therefore loses a lot of water. He can compensate for this loss by eating water-based food. Locusts can therefore only endure hunger if there is enough water available.
- With the anobia type, the transpiration is reduced so much that the animal can survive drought for a long time. Various adaptations are used for this: insects have a thick cuticle, reptiles have a horned shell, snails have solid shells with lids. Birds and caterpillars take up the water from their faeces and urine before excretion (reabsorption). Many desert and steppe dwellers avoid high perspiration by looking for hiding places and thus preventing high levels of sunlight.
plants
There are also xerophilic representatives of plants who prefer dry locations. However, this term does not completely coincide with the more frequently used term xerophyte , which describes plants that predominantly occur on dry locations.
See also
Individual evidence
- ^ Matthias Schaefer: Dictionary of Ecology . 4th edition, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg, Berlin 2003. ISBN 3-8274-0167-4 , p. 385.
- ↑ a b H.J. Müller: Ecology . 2nd edition, Gustav Fischer, Jena 1991. ISBN 3-334-00398-1 , p. 178.
- ^ Gerhard Wagenitz : Dictionary of Botany. The terms in their historical context. 2nd, expanded edition. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg / Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-8274-1398-2 , p. 352.