Terrestrial vertebrates

Metabolism is the main mechanism of loss in terrestrial vertebrates, but is less important in fish, which can achieve excretion by diffusion into ambient water. 

Pyrethroids show very marked selective toxicity (Table 12.2). They are highly toxic to terrestrial and aquatic arthropods and to fish, but only moderately toxic to rodents, and less toxic still to birds. The selectivity ratio between bees and rodents is 10,000- to 100,000-fold with topical application of the insecticides. They therefore appear to be environmentally safe so far as terrestrial vertebrates are concerned. There are, inevitably, concerns about their possible side effects in aquatic systems, especially on invertebrates. 

Freitag J., Ludwig G., Andreini I., Rossler P., et al. (1998). Olfactory receptors in aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates. J Comp Physiol [A] 183, 635-650. 

Acute biological effects of the Chernobyl accident on local natural resources were documented by Sokolov et al. (1990). They concluded that the most sensitive ecosystems affected at Chernobyl were the soil fauna and pine forest communities and that the bulk of the terrestrial vertebrate community was not adversely affected by released ionizing radiation. Pine forests seemed to be the most sensitive ecosystem. One stand of 400 ha of Pirns silvestris died and probably received a dose of 80 to 100 Gy other stands experienced heavy mortality of 10- to 12-year-old trees and up to 95% necrotization of young shoots. These pines received an estimated dose of 8 to 10 Gy. Abnormal top shoots developed in some Pirns, and these probably received 3 to 4 Gy. In contrast, leafed trees such as birch, oak, and aspen in the Chernobyl Atomic Power Station zone survived undamaged, probably because they are about 10 times more radioresistant than pines. There was no increase in the mutation rate of the spiderwort, (Arabidopsis thaliana) a radiosensitive plant, suggesting that the dose rate was less than 0.05 Gy/h in the Chernobyl locale. 

Alberts, A.C. (1992) Constraints on the design of chemical communication systems in terrestrial vertebrates. Am. Nat. 139 supp, s62-s89. 

Two olfactory systems have evolved in terrestrial vertebrates which differ in both their peripheral anatomy and central projections. The main olfactory system is usually conceived as a general analyzer that detects and differentiates among complex chemosignals of the environment (Firestein 2001). Odors are detected by olfactory sensory neurons located in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) these neurons project to glomeruli in the main olfactory bulb (MOB). The mitral and tufted neurons abutting these MOB glomeruli then transmit olfactory signals to various... 

Trueman, C.N. (1999). Rare earth element geochemistry and taphonomy of terrestrial vertebrate assemblages. Palaios 14 555-568. 

In the San Bernardino Mountains, our goals have been to describe the terrestrial vertebrate community within this mixed-conifer forest, particularly in relation to ponderosa and Jeffrey pine stands, and to determine the effects of oxidant air pollutants on this community. The possible interactions of vertebrates in this system are shown in Figures 12-8 through 12-12. 

Since virtually all communication by terrestrial vertebrates takes place in the air layer near the ground, the chemical ecologist has to understand the properties of that stratum. Volatiles in higher layers of air, however, may attract vultures to carcasses and could possibly serve as cues for migrating birds. Airborne odors are affected by temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, air currents, and vegetation, which, in turn, may influence temperature, humidity, and airflow. Complex interactions of these variables create countless unique environmental conditions for communication patterns of diverse species and for various specific purposes. 

Secretions and excretions of terrestrial vertebrates contain compounds with a wide range of volatility. For convenience, the two ends of the continuum... 

Ammonia (NH3) is a relatively strong base, and at physiological pH values it is mainly present in the form of the ammonium ion NH4 (see p. 30). NH3 and NH4 are toxic, and at higher concentrations cause brain damage in particular. Ammonia therefore has to be effectively inactivated and excreted. This can be carried out in various ways. Aquatic animals can excrete NH4 directly. For example, fish excrete NH4 via the gills (ammonotelic animals). Terrestrial vertebrates, including humans, hardly excrete any NH3, and instead, most ammonia is converted into urea before excretion ureotelic animals). Birds and reptiles, by contrast, form uric acid, which is mainly excreted as a solid in order to save water uricotelic animals). 

Ureotelic animals many terrestrial vertebrates also sharks... 

Dearing MD, Foley WJ, McLean S. 2005. The influence of plant secondary metabolites on the nutritional ecology of herbivorous terrestrial vertebrates. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 36 169-189. 

Soil invertebrates — predatory invertebrates — terrestrial vertebrates —predatory birds or mammals... 

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