Small organs before scarcity
2006/06/30 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia
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Living in the desert often means having little food and water. Therefore, the species that live there have developed strategies to combat scarcity. Subgutturous gazella has been discovered by a group of zoologists from the United States. This gazelle has the ability to reduce the liver and heart, which is a great advantage over the oxygen consumption of these organs. Having smaller organs, it needs less oxygen; the need for less oxygen slows breathing; and with slow breathing less water is lost. In the end, liver and heart reduction is a way to lose less water for gacel. However, being important organs, the strategy can cause other long-term damage.
Photo: Stephane Ostrowski
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