o Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1995 Sof'tcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1995The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relavant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.Typesetting: K. Darms, GOttingen SPIN 10125844 31/3137-543210 -Printed on acid-free paper
PrefaceThe idea to write a book on the adaptation of invertebrates from both hot and cold arid environments in the series Adaptations of Desert Organisms originated from Professor J.L. Cloudsley-Thompson. My thanks are due to him for his encouragement during the preparation of the present volume, and for his many suggestions to improve the content. I am also most grateful to Professor K.E. Zacharias sen, University of Trondheim, Dr. H. Raml0v, University of Copenhagen and Dr. M. Holmstrup, University of Aarhus for valuable comments to parts of the manuscript. The scanning electron microscope photographs of tardigrades have been reproduced by the courtesy of Drs. R.M. Kristensen and H. Raml0v, University of Copenhagen, and the photographs of freezing in nematodes by the courtesy of Dr. David Wharton, University of Otago.Traditionally, the biology of plants and animals from the hot temperate and subtropical deserts is treated separately from those of cold polar deserts.Within the series Adaptations of Desert Organisms, edited by Professor J.L.Cloudsley-Thompson, most books are concerned with hot deserts, while particular attention is given to polar deserts in the present volume. To point out differences and similarities, an attempt is made to compare invertebrates from such different regions, in particular with regard to adaptations to their hostile environments. Questions are raised if species from hot and cold deserts exhibit similarities in their tolerance of drought, and how species from both regions are adapted to low temperatures. To provide a background to these problems, the climate and fauna of hot and cold deserts are described in the first two chapters.In the Arctic and the Antarctic, precipitation is low and comparable to that of many deserts in warmer regions. In winter, snow and ice predominate, and liquid water is unavailable to terrestrial organisms. Clearly, invertebrates inhabiting these regions must be able to survive both aridity and low temperatures. Similarly, species from hot temperate deserts are not only adapted to dry conditions but to cold as well. Winter severity increases with latitude, altitude and continentality.The fauna of insects, spiders and myriapods of hot deserts is fundamentally different from that of polar deserts, suggesting differences in historical development and specificity of adaptation. On the other hand, similarities are seen in the fauna of mites and springtails, comprising important elements VI Preface in soil ecosystems. Nematodes are abundant in both hot deserts and polar regions. Like tardigrades, they are able to survi...