Desert Rats Finding Meals Less Palatable, by Sindya N. Bhano

Hard to overstate the significance of this topic. Unfortunately, the material in here will become more and more depressing as time goes on. Not much hope of any alternative to that.

Desert Rats Finding Meals Less Palatable, by Sindya N. Bhano

Postby admin » Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:18 am

Desert Rats Finding Meals Less Palatable
By SINDYA N. BHANOO
JAN. 18, 2016

NOTICE: THIS WORK MAY BE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO READ THE COPYRIGHT NOTICE AT THIS LINK BEFORE YOU READ THE FOLLOWING WORK, THAT IS AVAILABLE SOLELY FOR PRIVATE STUDY, SCHOLARSHIP OR RESEARCH PURSUANT TO 17 U.S.C. SECTION 107 AND 108. IN THE EVENT THAT THE LIBRARY DETERMINES THAT UNLAWFUL COPYING OF THIS WORK HAS OCCURRED, THE LIBRARY HAS THE RIGHT TO BLOCK THE I.P. ADDRESS AT WHICH THE UNLAWFUL COPYING APPEARED TO HAVE OCCURRED. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING THE RIGHTS OF COPYRIGHT OWNERS.


Image
A wood rat in front of a creosote bush, its main source of sustenance. Credit Kevin D. Kohl, PhD

Climate change may affect wood rats in the Mojave Desert in a most unusual way. A new study finds that warmer weather reduces their ability to tolerate toxins in the creosote bush, which they rely on for sustenance.

The consequences may be dire for the wood rats. “There’s not much more they can eat out there,” said Patrice Kurnath, a biologist at the University of Utah and one of the study’s authors.

She and her colleagues reported their findings in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

The leaves of the creosote bush contain a resin full of toxic compounds. They are known to cause kidney cysts and liver failure in laboratory rats. Wild wood rats, however, generally tolerate the poisons.

Ms. Kurnath and her colleagues monitored the wood rats as they ate the leaves in warmer temperatures — around 83 degrees Fahrenheit. Although highs in the Mojave can reach the 80s and 90s during the summer, much of the year is cooler. The rats became less tolerant of the toxins and began to lose weight.

The reason may have to do with how the liver functions in warmer weather, Ms. Kurnath said.

The liver is the body’s primary detoxifying organ. When a mammalian liver is active, it increases internal body temperature.

“In warmer weather, maybe you’re not producing huge amounts of heat and you’re not breaking down the toxins,” Ms. Kurnath said.

As the climate warms, the wood rats will disappear from the Mojave or, if they are fortunate, adapt, Ms. Kurnath said.
admin
Site Admin
 
Posts: 36125
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 5:21 am

Return to Planet on Fire

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests