Desert BiomeDesert Biome

Cassie & JasmineCassie & Jasmine

EcologyEcology

Where Deserts Are LocatedWhere Deserts Are Located

Desert PlantsDesert Plants

• They are often swollen, spiny, and They are often swollen, spiny, and have tiny leaves that are rarely have tiny leaves that are rarely bright green. bright green.

• Their strange appearance is a result Their strange appearance is a result of their remarkable adaptations to of their remarkable adaptations to the challenges of the desert climate. the challenges of the desert climate.

• Examples of desert plants are Barrel Examples of desert plants are Barrel Cactus, Brittle Bush, Saguaro Cactus, Cactus, Brittle Bush, Saguaro Cactus, Ocotillo, Soaptree Yucca.Ocotillo, Soaptree Yucca.

Desert AnimalsDesert Animals

• The animals that live in the desert usually The animals that live in the desert usually have special adaptations that allow them have special adaptations that allow them to survive the extreme temperatures and to survive the extreme temperatures and conditions that are in a desert.conditions that are in a desert.

• Examples of desert animals are camels, Examples of desert animals are camels, scorpions, snakes, lizards, and turtles. scorpions, snakes, lizards, and turtles.

• A camel can drink very large amounts of A camel can drink very large amounts of water in one day or survive for a relatively water in one day or survive for a relatively long time without drinking any water.long time without drinking any water.

Facts About The Desert Facts About The Desert BiomeBiome• Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth's Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth's

surface and occur where rainfall is less than surface and occur where rainfall is less than 50 cm/year. 50 cm/year.

• Soils often have abundant nutrients because Soils often have abundant nutrients because they need only water to become very they need only water to become very productive and have little or no organic productive and have little or no organic matter. matter.

• Disturbances are common in the form of Disturbances are common in the form of occasional fires or cold weather, and sudden, occasional fires or cold weather, and sudden, infrequent, but intense rains that cause infrequent, but intense rains that cause flooding. flooding.

Desert ClimateDesert Climate• The desert is the hottest biome on earth. The desert is the hottest biome on earth.

However, the desert is also a land of extremes. However, the desert is also a land of extremes. • It can be over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during It can be over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during

the day but below 32 degrees at night. This the day but below 32 degrees at night. This change is because deserts are bare.change is because deserts are bare.

• The amount of rainfall also varies. Though The amount of rainfall also varies. Though there is little rain in a desert, and when it does there is little rain in a desert, and when it does rain, it pours. Violent rainstorms can cause rain, it pours. Violent rainstorms can cause flash floods in the desert. After a storm, the flash floods in the desert. After a storm, the desert may not see any rain for weeks or desert may not see any rain for weeks or months. months.

Human Influence On Human Influence On DesertsDeserts

• An increase of human population in An increase of human population in recent years has greatly impacted recent years has greatly impacted global biodiversity.global biodiversity.

• Environments that were once were in Environments that were once were in balance have been destroyed and a balance have been destroyed and a great indication of this is the increase great indication of this is the increase in the desert areas worldwide.in the desert areas worldwide.

Abiotic Factors Abiotic Factors

• TemperatureTemperature

• SunlightSunlight

• ClimateClimate

• SoilSoil

Desert Food WebDesert Food Web

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts• Sahara desert is the second largest desert in the world, Sahara desert is the second largest desert in the world,

after Antarctica, and the largest hot desert in the worldafter Antarctica, and the largest hot desert in the world• The history of the desert dates back to 3 million years ago The history of the desert dates back to 3 million years ago

• The Mojave Desert is the driest and smallest of the North American The Mojave Desert is the driest and smallest of the North American deserts and was named after the Mohave tribe of Native Americans. deserts and was named after the Mohave tribe of Native Americans.

• Sahara desert can said to be equivalent to the continent of AmericaSahara desert can said to be equivalent to the continent of America

• Lack of water creates a survival problem for all desert Lack of water creates a survival problem for all desert organisms, animals and plants alike. But animals have an organisms, animals and plants alike. But animals have an additional problem -- they are more susceptible to extremes additional problem -- they are more susceptible to extremes of temperature than are plants. Animals receive heat of temperature than are plants. Animals receive heat directly by radiation from the sun, and indirectly, by directly by radiation from the sun, and indirectly, by conduction from the substrate (rocks and soil) and conduction from the substrate (rocks and soil) and convection from the air.convection from the air.

QuestionsQuestions• 1. Name one of the biggest deserts in the world?1. Name one of the biggest deserts in the world?

• 2. True or False: Is there a deserts called 2. True or False: Is there a deserts called Chihuahan?Chihuahan?

• 3.Deserts cover about___ of the earth's surface?3.Deserts cover about___ of the earth's surface?

• 4. Animals in the desert usually have special__ 4. Animals in the desert usually have special__ that allow them to survive the extremethat allow them to survive the extreme conditions. conditions.

• 5.True or false: The fur of the Arctic Fox is white 5.True or false: The fur of the Arctic Fox is white during the winter and gray-brown in the summer?during the winter and gray-brown in the summer?

Works CitedWorks Cited

• www.worldbiomes.com/www.worldbiomes.com/

• www.uwsp.edu/geo/facultywww.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty

• www.google/desets animals.comwww.google/desets animals.com

1. Name one of the biggest deserts in 1. Name one of the biggest deserts in the world?the world?2. True or False: Is there a desert 2. True or False: Is there a desert called Chihuahan?called Chihuahan?3. Deserts cover about___ of the 3. Deserts cover about___ of the earth's surface?earth's surface?4. Animals in the desert usually have 4. Animals in the desert usually have special__ that allow them to survive special__ that allow them to survive the extreme conditions.the extreme conditions.5. True or false: The fur of the Arctic 5. True or false: The fur of the Arctic Fox is white during the winter and Fox is white during the winter and gray-brown in the summer?gray-brown in the summer?