Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Design Example: Design of an Irrigation Channel01:27

Design Example: Design of an Irrigation Channel

353
Trapezoidal channels are widely used in irrigation systems due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency in conveying water. Trapezoidal channels feature a flat bottom and sloping sides, making them stable and easier to construct compared to other shapes. The bottom width and side slope ratio are determined based on the required flow capacity and site conditions. The side slope is kept gentle for unlined channels to prevent soil erosion.Hydraulic parameters in channel design include the flow...
353
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss01:57

Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss

27.1K
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
27.1K
Water and Mineral Acquisition02:34

Water and Mineral Acquisition

34.3K
Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
34.3K
Regulation of Water Output01:26

Regulation of Water Output

1.6K
The human body predominantly expels water through the urinary system. On average, an individual generates around 1.5 liters of urine each day. This amount can fluctuate based on how well a person is hydrated, but a critical minimum quantity of urine must be produced to ensure the body's proper functioning. Daily, the kidneys remove 600 to 1200 milliosmoles of dissolved substances, effectively excreting excess minerals and water-soluble toxins such as creatinine, urea, and uric acid from the...
1.6K
Weir: Problem Solving01:26

Weir: Problem Solving

191
Water flow in open channels is often measured using hydraulic structures such as weirs, which allow precise calculation of discharge. In a rectangular channel, flow rates are measured using three types of weirs: rectangular sharp-crested, triangular sharp-crested, and broad-crested. The weir head is set at a fixed height above the channel bottom, simplifying calculations and enabling the relationship between depth and flow rate to be analyzed.For the rectangular sharp-crested weir, the flow...
191
Osmoregulation in Insects01:47

Osmoregulation in Insects

16.9K
Malpighian tubules are specialized structures found in the digestive systems of many arthropods, including most insects, that handle excretion and osmoregulation. The tubules are typically arranged in pairs and have a convoluted structure that increases their surface area.
16.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reevaluating introduced herbivores in conservation.

Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·2026
Same author

Multiscale effects of habitat fragmentation on plant functional composition: insights from Thousand Island Lake, China.

Oecologia·2026
Same author

Many pasts, many futures: Navigating the complexities of species reshuffling to help prevent extinctions.

Cambridge prisms. Extinction·2026
Same author

Ectoparasite abundance and pathogen prevalence of the San Clemente Island fox (Urocyon littoralis clementae).

PloS one·2026
Same author

Predator-prey temporal niche partitioning under human disturbance: a meta-analysis.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Response to critique by Finch and Murray (2025): Misshot kangaroos and the limits of welfare regulation.

Animal welfare (South Mimms, England)·2025
Same journal

A native sulfur deposit in Gale crater, Mars.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Coordinated demise of harmful algal blooms.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Genetic effects put into context.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Bacteria share proteins to survive antibiotics.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Impacts shaped Earth's first continents.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same journal

Erratum for the Report "Covalently bonded single-molecule junctions with stable and reversible photoswitched conductivity" by C. Jia <i>et al</i>.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 7, 2025

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment
08:24

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment

Published on: May 2, 2025

560

Equids engineer desert water availability.

Erick J Lundgren1,2,3, Daniel Ramp4, Juliet C Stromberg5

  • 1Centre for Compassionate Conservation, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia. erick.lundgren@gmail.com.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 30, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Feral donkeys and horses in North American deserts dig wells, creating vital water sources. These "equid wells" support greater wildlife and plant diversity, enhancing ecosystem resilience to aridification.

More Related Videos

Continuous Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring of Vernal Ponds
06:37

Continuous Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring of Vernal Ponds

Published on: November 13, 2017

9.4K
Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure
07:15

Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure

Published on: April 25, 2025

709

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 7, 2025

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment
08:24

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment

Published on: May 2, 2025

560
Continuous Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring of Vernal Ponds
06:37

Continuous Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring of Vernal Ponds

Published on: November 13, 2017

9.4K
Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure
07:15

Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure

Published on: April 25, 2025

709

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Ecosystem Engineering
  • Desert Ecology

Background:

  • Megafauna significantly influence biosphere functions, but their role in shaping dryland ecosystems remains understudied.
  • Dryland ecosystems face increasing aridification due to human activities, highlighting the need to understand resilience mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the overlooked ecosystem engineering role of feral equids (donkeys and horses) in North American deserts.
  • To assess the impact of equid-created water sources on vertebrate activity and riparian tree establishment.

Main Methods:

  • Documented the digging of wells by feral equids to access groundwater in North American deserts.
  • Quantified water feature density and proximity at equid wells compared to adjacent dry sites.
  • Compared vertebrate richness and activity at equid wells versus control sites.
  • Observed the role of equid wells in facilitating riparian tree propagation.

Main Results:

  • Feral equids excavate wells up to 2 meters deep, increasing the number and decreasing the distance between water sources.
  • Equid wells provided critical water resources, sometimes being the sole water source available.
  • Higher vertebrate richness and activity were recorded at equid wells than at adjacent dry sites.
  • Equid wells mimicked flood disturbances, creating favorable conditions for riparian tree nurseries.

Conclusions:

  • Feral equids act as significant ecosystem engineers by creating and maintaining water sources in arid environments.
  • Equid-created water features enhance biodiversity and habitat connectivity, buffering against aridification.
  • Introduced or feral equids can play a crucial role in increasing the resilience of dryland ecosystems to climate change.