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published by m. hill for gr 601 type systems

taught online by carolina de bartolo spring 2009

academy of art university, san francisco, ca

printing by m. hill with an hp 9500 color printer

binding by danya winterman, the key printing and

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CONTENTsix 1 1 3 1 5 1 6 3 90 93

survival the desert environment.

INTRODUCTIONTh e southwestern United States has a fascinating diversity of vegetation

and wildlife, much of which has evolved to survive under very hostile

environmental conditions. For the rst time visitor from a more temperate

climate, the landscape appears completely alien. Cacti, mesquite trees, and

creosote bushes are the common trees to be found. Many familiar species like

oak trees have adapted to hot dry weather with smaller structures using water

conserving systems. Th e Mojave landscape is host to a variety of dreaded,

venomous and poisonous animals that have each evolved certain specialized

defense systems for their

especially the Mojave.

A bite is a wound received from the mouth, in particular, the teeth, fangs

or sometimes the stinger of an animal, including humans. Animals often

strike or bite in self-defense, in an attempt to predate food, as well as part

of normal interactions. Other bite attacks may be apparently unprovoked.

Bites are usually distinguished by the type of creature causing the wound.

Many di erent creatures are known to bite or to strike at humans. Th e result

of this type of injury is typically survived, unless the animal that is striking

has an exceptional envenomous delivery system.

Just exactly where are these animals to be found? How dangerous are they?

How likely are you to encounter them? What should you do if you have

a bad encounter? Is everything in the Southwest considered venomous

or poisonous? How can you know what is and whats not? Encounters with

venomous or poisonous animals should be cherished and enjoyed safely

be it in the home, back yard, or when out hiking or camping. All of these

animals are an integral part of the Mojave ecosystem which is a desert

biome. The desert biome displays considerable variation,

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Th e Mojave animals live in what strikes many humans as an oppressive

environment. Th e solar energy that all green plants convert into food fuels

life here. Although in most ecosystems animals, like plants compete for food

from sunlight, here many are adapted venom use to survive as they minimize

the e ects of too much energy from the constant solar rays.

An ecosystem is de ned as biotic community together within its physical

environment, considered as an integrated unit. Implied here is the concept of

a structural and functional whole uni ed through life processes.

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Th e ecosystem of the Mojave is characterized

as a distinctly viable unit of desert community

and interactive habitats with unique venomous

delivery systems. Th ese systems are hierarchical

and can be viewed as nested sets of open systems

in which physical, chemical, and biological

processes form interactive subsystems.

Awareness of how an animal is likely to behave

can take the fear out of an encounter and help to

keep everybody safe. Most importantly, learning

about venomous and poisonous animals can lead

surviving a potential deadly situation.

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: Insect bites may deliver infection.

: Animal bites may transmit disease.

: A bite may cause bodily injury.

: 80% of animal bites are from unknown sources.

: Any animal with claws or teeth may bite.

: An animal bite can in ict life-long illnesses.

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average annual hospitalization for wild mojave animal bites

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by Mojave anim

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1-1. This chart shows the average annual hospitalization for animal bite victims

Venomous bites are usually

named by the type of animal

that causes the wound such

as a bee sting or snake bite.

There are few desert variables including intense

heat, varying elevation, moisture, sand and soil

composition, exposure to ultraviolet rays and

wind patterns that create specific kinds of living

conditions for many plants and animals. Nature

and habitats dont have hard boundaries and

often overlap. Different kinds of habitats within

a short distance of each frequently occur in

the Mojave region. The vastness of the Mojave

spans the areas of lower Nevada and southern

California, Utah and the upper most part of

Arizona. The Mojave waters rarely come above

ground. Usually, the river and basin f lows can

be seen in secluded upper canyon regions. This

is prime territory for venomous animals and to

protect their rights to live, many have adapted to

develop toxins within their body systems to help

them stay and thrive in the Mojave. Many of these

animals were thought to be small in numbers

but their habitats have been revealed as hidden

and large underground territories near basin

water runoff. Here many varieties of cactus and

border on dry lakebeds. Their water conserving

habits resemble those of the animals. Spindly

shrubs and threadlike stems in plants often will

poke or prick

Ecologists use a di erent term for each type of symbiotic relationship. In the

scenario where both species bene t, the term mutualism applies. When one

species bene ts and another is una ected that is called commensalism. Parasit-

ism is the opposite, one species bene ts, the other is harmed. If neither species

bene ts then ecologists call this competition. And the fourth term, neutralism

de nes a situation where both species are una ected. In the Mojave region,

there are many examples

several states of the south west U

nited States.

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Th e abundance of naturally

occurring caves is one the most

common geologic features

of the Mojave. Underground

living gives animals a great

advantage of energy e ciency.

1-2. This map shows

the overall region and

location of the vast

Mojave that spans

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at an invader.

of symbiosis.

Some animals survive only in the Mojave Desert, these are called endemic

species. Kelso Dunes, also known as the Kelso Dune Field, is the largest

eld of eolian sand deposits in the Mojave Desert. Like many south western

dune systems, the Kelso dunes have a number of endemic animal species.

Th e list includes at least ten species of insect, such as the Kelso Dunes Giant

Sand Treader (Macrobaenetes kelsoensis, a species of camel cricket), the

Kelso Dunes Jerusalem Cricket (Ammopelmatus kelsoensis, a stenopelmatid)

a giant Mydid y (Rhaphiomidas tarsalis), and the Kelso Dunes Shieldback

Katydid (Eremopedes kelsoensis), as well as several rare and venomous native

bees and wasps, and some beetles. Although not strictly endemic, several

plant and reptile species are rare outside of these dunes. One example is the

Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia), which is specialized in its ability

to actually move as if swimming under sand.

Some animals live throughout all the southwestern desert areas and some

are merely passing through on a migratory path. Regardless, whether living

permanently in the Mojave, staying only seasonally or ying by on their

way somewhere else, adaptations to the extreme climate and lack of water

must be made even if an animal is only staying for a short while. Endemic

species usually have adapted to these conditions to the highest degree. Th at

includes sophisticated methods of defense. While defense systems are varied,

they can be narrowed to the categories of venomous and poisonous delivery

systems. Th e term for venom or poison that enters the bloodstream is called

a hemotoxin. Hemotoxins, haemotoxins or hematotoxins are toxins that

destroy red blood cells (that is, cause hemolysis), disrupt blood clotting, and

cause organ degeneration and generalized tissue damage. Hemotoxins are

fre