Desert Environments
Published In
Extremophile Fishes: Ecology, Evolution, and Physiology of Teleosts in Extreme Environments
Document Type
Citation
Publication Date
2015
Abstract
This is a book chapter within Extremophile Fishes. This book summarizes the key adaptations enabling extremophile fishes to survive under harsh environmental conditions. It reviews the most recent research on acidic, Antarctic, cave, desert, hypersaline, hypoxic, temporary, and fast-flowing habitats, as well as naturally and anthropogenically toxic waters, while pointing out generalities that are evident across different study systems. Knowledge of the different adaptations that allow fish to cope with stressful environmental conditions furthers our understanding of basic physiological, ecological, and evolutionary principles. In several cases, evidence is provided for how the adaptation to extreme environments promotes the emergence of new species. Furthermore, a link is made to conservation biology, and how human activities have exacerbated existing extreme environments and created new ones. The book concludes with a discussion of major open questions in our understanding of the ecology and evolution of life in extreme environments.
DOI
10.1007/978-3-319-13362-1
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/18254
Citation Details
Hillyard, S.D., J.E. Podrabsky and F. van Breukelen. (2015). Desert Environments. In: Extremophile Fishes: Ecology, Evolution, and Physiology of Teleosts in Extreme Environments. (Eds. R. Riesch, M. Tobler and M. Plath). London: Springer. pp. 9-83.