Small organs before scarcity
2006/06/30 Roa Zubia, Guillermo - Elhuyar Zientzia
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
