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birding-aus Birds and heat loss

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Subject: birding-aus Birds and heat loss
From: "Martin O'Brien"<>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 09:22:41 +1000
birding-aus


Ahh, this brings back the second year Zoology memories!

I remember the ability of gulls and other birds to stand on ice was neatly
explained in our physiology classes as an example of a counter current
mechanism.  Such physiological adaptations also occur in the fins of
penguins.

I wonder whether the converse is true ie. the ability to withstand extreme
heat?  Does anyone remember the footage on a Attenborough documentary of
desert dwellers with a lizard that lifted alternate feet when standing on
the hot desert sands?

Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer
Scientific Advisory Committee
Threatened Species Program
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde.,
East Melbourne,  3002
Victoria, AUSTRALIA

tel: +61 3 9412 4567
fax: +61 3 9412 4586
e-mail: 
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