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Abstract
Mechanistic principles from engineering, meteorology, and soil physics are integrated
with ecology and physiology to develop models for prediction of animal behavior. The
Mojave Desert biome and the desert iguana are used to illustrate these principles.A
transient energy balance model for animals in an outdoor environment is presented.
The concepts and relationships have been tested in a wind tunnel, in a simulated desert,
and in the field. The animal model requires anatomical information and knowledge of
the thermoregulatory responses of the animal. The micrometeorological model requires
only basic meteorological parameters and two soil physical properties as inputs. Tests
of the model in the field show agreement between predicted and measured temperatures
above and below the surface of about 2 to 3°C.The animal and micrometeorological models
are combined to predict daily and seasonal activity patterns, available times for
predator-prey interaction, and daily, seasonal and annual requirements for food and
water. It is shown that food, water and the thermal environment can limit animal activity,
and furthermore, the controlling limit changes with season. Actual observations of
activity patterns and our predictions show close agreement, in many cases, and pose
intriguing questions in those situations where agreement does not exist. This type
of modeling can be used to further study predator-prey interactions, to study how
changes in the environment might affect animal behavior, and to answer other important
ecological and physiological questions.