Salt Glands in Birds and Reptiles

The aim of the authors in writing this monograph has been to provide a comprehensive and critical, but personal account of salt glands.

M. Peaker (Author), J. L. Linzell (Author)

9780521112031, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 June 2009

336 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.9 cm, 0.43 kg

The aim of the authors in writing this monograph has been to provide a comprehensive and critical, but personal account of salt glands. Papers on salt glands are scattered through a great many different journals. There is therefore a great need for a synthesis of what is known about salt glands. The means by which salt glands perform their vital function of forming and excreting a concentrated salt solution is of great biological importance in understanding salt and water relations in the cells of all living things. In addition to the basic physiology of salt glands there is consideration of their ecological importance, their interaction with other systems of the body, their role in non-marine birds and reptiles and their evolution. Salt glands have interested biologists from a wide range of disciplines. This book brings together the scattered literature and will be a convenient source of reference to those working in the field, as well as providing information for comparative studies and for teaching purposes.

Preface
1. Historical introduction
Part I. Avian Salt Glands: 2. Structure of salt glands
3. Methods
4. Nervous control of secretion
5. Blood flow
6. The secretory mechanism
7. Factors affecting the concentration of nasal fluid
8. Hormones and salt-gland secretion
9. Adaptation of the gland
10. Integration between the salt gland and other organs
11. Comparative and applied physiology
Part II. Reptilian Salt Glands: 12. Marine reptiles
13. Terrestrial reptiles
14. Evolution of salt glands
References
Addendum
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Cellular biology [cytology PSF]