BIOLOGY 2F03 Lecture Notes - Sonoran Desert, Water Potential, Dune
Document Summary
Marine and freshwater animals regulate water and salt diffusion depending terrestrial plants and animals balance water loss against water intake on osmotic pressure. Precipitation and its timing, and humidity define biomes in n. america. Sonoran desert: air temp = 46c (deadly) ground = 70c. Cicada singing actively, no predator actively, no predator active, sits on branches, in shade. How can it do it and not dry up or overheat. How much water is needed to saturate the air. Water vapour in air can be measured either as grams of vapour per cubic meter of air or by the pressure exerted by the water vapour in air recall water precipitation in ait circulation cells (when it cools) Measured by grams of h2o in air or pressure of h2o vapour. H2o is lost as vapour, must be replenished (drinking, absorption) In 100% relative humidity, evaporation cannot take place and thus no cooling. To cool cicada must loose h2o but which water.
