Principles of Animal Biometeorology

This book describes an array of methods for measuring the thermal energy exchanges between tropical animals and their habitat. It covers radiative, convective, conductive, and evaporative mechanisms, showing how to assess them in different animal classes.

The book begins by describing in detail the mechanisms of energy exchange radiative, convective, conductive and evaporative together with techniques for their determination. The discussion extends to the importance of CO2, ozone and methane, together with that of aerosol pollutants and the evolution of atmospheric CO2. Subsequent chapters apply the results of the biophysical methods to mammals, birds and aquatic animals. Discussion includes problems of shelter and shade for animals in tropical environments and techniques for the thermal evaluation for shelters and for several tree types. The details of heat exchange between animals and the environment are presented, in separate chapters covering Mammals and Birds and Aquatic Mammals. A chapter on Shade and Shelter describes the importance of shade for animals, factors of shade efficiency, the protections offered by shelter and methods of calculating the protection afforded by both shade and shelter. A Special Methods chapter offers a variety of techniques for evaluating cutaneous and respiratory evaporation, and practical methods for sampling of hairs and the evaluation of hair coat characteristics.

Discusses processes of thermal energy exchange between animals and the environment, with a special focus on tropical climates Describes numerous methods for observing and measuring thermal exchange, for both land and aquatic organisms Includes methods for sampling hairs, for evaluating shade in trees and in shelters, and cutaneous and respiratory evaporation Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Klappentext

Principles of Animal Biometeorology presents a thorough examination of the atmospheric environment in which animals live, and an equally comprehensive account of the processes of thermal energy exchanges between organisms and environment, with particular focus on tropical climates. The book begins by describing in detail the mechanisms of energy exchange radiative, convective, conductive and evaporative together with techniques for their determination. The discussion extends to the importance of CO2, ozone and methane, together with that of aerosol pollutants and the evolution of atmospheric CO2.

Subsequent chapters apply the results of the biophysical methods to mammals, birds and aquatic animals. Discussion includes problems of shelter and shade for animals in tropical environments and techniques for the thermal evaluation for shelters and for several tree types. The details of heat exchange between animals and the environment are presented, in separate chapters covering Mammals and Birds and Aquatic Mammals. A chapter on Shade and Shelter describes the importance of shade for animals, factors of shade efficiency, the protections offered by shelter and methods of calculating the protection afforded by both shade and shelter. A Special Methods chapter offers a variety of techniques for evaluating cutaneous and respiratory evaporation, and practical methods for sampling of hairs and the evaluation of hair coat characteristics.

The text is further illuminated by numerous relevant tables, diagrams and mathematical formulae.

Inhalt
Contents.- 1. The Environment.- 2. Basic Physical Mechanisms.- 3. Thermal Balance and Thermoregulation.- 4. Heat Exchange Between Animals and Environment: Mammals and Birds.- 5. Heat Exchange Between Animals and Environment: Aquatic Mammals.- 6. Shade and Shelter.- 7. Thermal Stress Indexes.- 8. Special Methods.- Index.