PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “desert adaptation”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2025

Multiomic Analyses Reveal the Molecular Mechanisms of Arid Adaptation in a Desert Rodent Species.

Organisms living in desert habitats face multiple simultaneous pressures, such as high temperatures and arid, and the population dynamics and community diversity of small rodents are strongly affected by climate extremes. However, the potential mechanisms by which desert rodents adapt to arid remain largely unexplored. Here, we assembled a 3.18 Gb genome, including 25,812 protein-encoding genes, for Orientallactaga sibirica, which is widely distributed across both arid and semihumid environments in Eurasia. Orientallactaga sibirica has longer ears and hind limbs to enhance heat dissipation, which may be related to the positively selected genes, such as Fgf10, Fgf11, Hoxc4, Hoxd1, and Bmp4. The renal transcriptome revealed increased fat and carbohydrate metabolism for metabolic water production in O. sibirica residing in arid habitats. Pathways such as material metabolism, oxidative stress response, osmoregulation, and water and salt reabsorption were enriched in candidate genes, such as Avp, Ang, and Ace, under positive selection in O. sibirica. Moreover, amino acid replacement was observed in the protein sequences of seven candidate genes, including Aldh7a1, Lnpep, Wnk4, C1qc, and Awat2, and these specific amino acid replacements of genes such as Umod and Scnn1a were related to unique osmoregulation, osmotic protection, and water retention compensation mechanisms. Water deprivation under laboratory conditions induced the upregulation of Umod and Aldh7a1 expression, further supporting the results observed in the wild population. These findings demonstrate that the positively selected genes related to limb development and specific amino acid replacements in the genes Umod and Scnn1a for unique osmoregulation in the renal vascular system may contribute to arid adaptation in the desert rodent species O. sibirica. This study provides novel insights into the adaptive evolution of desert small mammals and can serve as a reference for future research on renal damage-related diseases, such as human kidney stones and salt-sensitive hypertension.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Hidden Diversity in the Sands: Genomic Footprints of Pleistocene Refugia and Fragile Futures of the Turkestan Ground-Jay (Podoces panderi) in Central Asia.

The Turkestan ground-jay (Podoces panderi), a corvid endemic to Central Asia's deserts and steppes, exemplifies how extreme environments drive speciation. Our study provides the first comprehensive high-resolution genomic analysis of this species, using complete mitochondrial genomes (49 individuals) to decode its population structure and demographic past. Our analyses revealed three highly divergent genetic clusters with strong geographic structure. The P. p. iliensis population (Cluster_3) showed particularly pronounced genetic distinctiveness, with significant differentiation from P. p. panderi (Cluster_2 and Cluster_1) populations. This clear genetic separation supports the taxonomic validity of P. p. iliensis as a distinct evolutionary lineage. Demographic reconstruction indicated that Cluster_2 likely represents the ancestral group, with subsequent southward expansion into the Karakum region. The isolated P. p. iliensis population exhibited signatures of long-term isolation, including reduced genetic diversity and absence of recent gene flow with other clusters. These results provide strong evidence that P. p. iliensis represents a distinct evolutionary unit. The genetic structuring into three clusters reflects historical isolation in desert refugia during Pleistocene climatic fluctuations. Notably, we detected asymmetric gene flow among three clusters. These findings redefine P. panderi as a model for desert adaptation, where climatic extremes forged genetic fragmentation amid limited dispersal. Beyond taxonomy, our work highlights how aridification sculpted biodiversity in Asia's interior, urging conservation attention for these evolutionarily distinct lineages.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Water regulation in Barmer goat of the Rajasthan desert.

The different body fluid compartments in normally watered and 4-day water-deprived goats of Rajasthan desert, India, were measured in autumn. The goats maintained plasma volume and extracellular fluid volume, but lost gut and cell water considerably under the experimental conditions; indicating that the maintenance of the fluidity of the blood has priority over the body's other fluid requirements in this desert-adapted species during water deprivation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1976

Water conservation in xerophilic birds.

Adaptation of birds to dry climates involves decrease in relative evaporative water loss (mechanism unknown); decrease in GFR; and high urine osmolality in the dehydrated state in conjunction with cloacal resorption parameters, which allows the urine to enter the cloaca without a further water loss. The net result of the adaptations is such that the best adapted birds, such as the budgerygah (12) and the zebra finch (13) fed dry seeds alone can live without water. Similar features have been observed also in the best adapted desert rodents (27). Finally, birds tolerate a 7 to 13% increase in plasma osmolality (9). Tucker (28) has calculated that the budgerygah has fuel for 14 h flight; we have calculated that it also has water for 14 h (12) at neutral temperature and humidity. This is better than the Jumbo Jet, which can only fly for 12 h.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1977

Glucose loading and dehydration in the camel.

Five female bedouin camels were subjected to large infusions of glucose, both when water was readily available and following 10 days of water deprivation. When the camels were hydrated the extra glucose was readily given off in the urine with only a slight increase in blood levels. Following dehydration, the blood glucose levels increased greatly while the urinary excretion was limited. Dehydration led to decreased blood insulin levels, while glucose infusion led to increased levels. The data show that the acclimatization of the camel to dehydration is not only a question of long-term adaption to desert conditions but that even following acute nonphysiological stress, i.e., glucosuria, excess loss of body water was prevented.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2024

The genome of Lespedeza potaninii reveals biased subgenome evolution and drought adaptation.

Lespedeza potaninii, a xerophytic subshrub belonging to the legume family, is native to the Tengger Desert and is highly adapted to drought. It has important ecological value due to its drought adaptability, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report a 1.24 Gb chromosome-scale assembly of the L. potaninii genome (contig N50 = 15.75 Mb). Our results indicate that L. potaninii underwent an allopolyploid event with 2 subgenomes, A and B, presenting asymmetric evolution and B subgenome dominance. We estimate that the 2 diploid progenitors of L. potaninii diverged around 3.6 million years ago (MYA) and merged around 1.0 MYA. We revealed that the expansion of hub genes associated with drought responses, such as the binding partner 1 of accelerated cell death 11 (ACD11) (BPA1), facilitated environmental adaptations of L. potaninii to desert habitats. We found a novel function of the BPA1 family in abiotic stress tolerance in addition to the known role in regulating the plant immune response, which could improve drought tolerance by positively regulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis in plants. We revealed that bZIP transcription factors could bind to the BPA1 promoter and activate its transcription. Our work fills the genomic data gap in the Lespedeza genus and the tribe Desmodieae, which should provide theoretical support both in the study of drought tolerance and in the molecular breeding of legume crops.

Genome, Plant↗
PubMed1992

The different types of general cold adaptation in man.

Different types of general cold adaptation have been described over the last 50 years. Metabolic adaptation (Alacaluf Indians, Arctic Indians Eskimos), insulative adaptation (coastal Aborigines of tropical northern Australia), hypothermic adaptation (bushmen of the Kalahari desert, Peruvian Indians) and insulative hypothermic adaptation (Central Australian Aborigines, nomadic Lapps, Korean and Japanese diving women). These different types of cold adaptation are related to the intensity of the cold stress and to individual factors such as diet, the level of physical fitness and body fat content. Thus, in natural environments, man develops a strategy of adaptation to cold, which takes into account environmental and individual factors. This strategy is susceptible to be modified when these conditions change. Caloric intake deficit could have been responsible for the hypothermic adaptation observed after J.-L. Etienne's journey to the North Pole. Physiological responses were adapted to maintain an acceptable level of energetic reserves with a moderate hypothermia, which was not life threatening for the climatic conditions encountered by the polar explorer.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1976

[The ecophysiology of Agama mutabilis Merren, in southern Tunisia].

The behavioural thermoregulation and rate of water turnover of the lizard Agama mutabilis were studied in southern Tunisia in summer and compared with another agamid, Amphibolurus inermis, Which occuies a similar habitat in Australia. The thermoregulatory sequence differs little between the two species although Agama mutabilis lacks a burrow and is probably more resistant to elevated body temperatures. Agama mutabilis has an extremely low rate of water turnover for such a small lizard [3,37 ml (100 g.day)-1] and ins probably, on the whole, better-adapted physiologically to desert conditions than Amphibolurus inermis.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Synthetic community derived from the root core microbes of a desert shrub Caragana korshinskii enhances wheat drought tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Drought, intensified by climate change, poses a mounting threat to global food security by severely constraining crop productivity. While microbial inoculants offer promise for drought tolerance, their poor adaptability remains insufficient for extremely water-deficient environments. Desert plants host unique drought-adapted microbiomes that remain largely unexplored for agricultural applications. RESULTS: Here, we investigated the microbial community of the desert shrub Caragana korshinskii and identified a core set of drought-responsive strains. A synthetic microbial community (SynCom) derived from these strains significantly improved wheat growth under drought stress. Metagenomic analyses revealed that microbial functions related to biofilm formation, quorum sensing, and carbon metabolism were enriched, with Pseudomonas identified as a key functional taxon. Guided by inter-strain interactions in biofilm assembly, we streamlined the consortium into a five-member synthetic community, where quorum-sensing signals promoted community-wide biofilm formation. Community biofilm production improved strain colonization and conferred greater drought tolerance compared to monocultures. In plants, mechanistic investigations indicated that the simplified SynCom inoculation universally upregulated MAPK and jasmonic acid signaling pathways. Furthermore, carbohydrate metabolic pathways such as starch and sucrose metabolism were specifically activated, suggesting a multi-level mechanism underlying SynCom-mediated drought tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that SynCom constructed on the endophytic flora of desert plants can significantly enhance crop drought tolerance. Our work highlights the pivotal role of community biofilm synthesis in facilitating root colonization and activating a multidimensional drought tolerance network in plants. This study not only gives an ecological perspective on desert microbiome adaptations but also offers a strategic framework for developing effective microbial inoculants for arid-region agriculture. Video Abstract.

Caragana↗
PubMed1976

[Water consumption in Saharan nomads. A remarkably reduced and constant consumption].

The writer has carried out two studies of the Western Sahara (Missions UNESCO-Institut Scientifique Cherifien 1961 and 1964) bearing upon the consumption of water by the Saharan nomads. In spite of their environment, the consumption appeared to be remarkably low and constant. Very strict dietary practices, the salinity of the water, and special behavioural customs seemed to be the basis of this strict economy of fluid intake. Genetic factors could also, of course, be partly responsible. The dietary practices are characterised essentially: 1) by a regime which in general contains the minimum of protein: milk foods, cereals, and sugars, and 2) by the habitual exclusion of salt in the preparation of meals; the sodium necessary for water/sodium balance deriving solely from the salinity of the water. Water with little or average salt content (total 2-3 g/l) seems to meet the normal needs of the body - there is no need for the salt pill - and, moreover, to quench the thirst more effectively than pure water (Paque, 1964) - presumably by making good the deficit (cf. Stricker, 1970). On the other hand, saltier water (total 4-8g/; Na 1 g/l or more) appears to pose more complex physiological problems for which the prime solution is to apply the Saharan rule, i.e. that no supplementary salt should be added to the diet (Paque, 1963). In desert life there are thus certain rules which must be obeyed. As for the matter of behavioural customs influencing water balance, they consist in the main of habitually limiting the frequency of water intake (often just twice daily, sometime only once daily) together with a careful choice of clothing and the wearing of the veil. Finally, genetic factor could result in a more efficiently controlled loss of water (and of salt?) VIA THE SKIN.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1975

Thyroid activity in desert rodents: a mechanism for lowered metabolic rate.

Desert rodents are known to exhibit three different levels of metabolic rate (MR) when related to the mouse-elephant equation. Several species have an MR that is either higher, lower, or similar to that predicted from the equation. The role of thyroid function as a possible mechanism associated with these different MR was examined in 12 species of desert rodents, representing 3 families and 3 different biotic communities. Thyroidal 131I uptake, ratio of neck-to-thigh 131I counts per minute (N/T ratio), thyroxine secretion rate (TSR), and plasma protein binding sites were used as indices of thyroid function. When relating thyroid function to MR, TSR was found to be low in species exhibiting low MR and vice versa. Other thyroid indices did not show a consistent relationship to MR. Also, TSR seems to be related to ecologic distribution: low TSR in desert areas and high TSR in arid woodland and montane forest areas. TSR was found to be correlated to body weight. The low TSR associated with reduced MR represents a useful adaptive mechanism for survival of desert rodents under their natural stressful environment.

Animals↗