Desert
Jason Li
Desert Biome Locations
Abiotic Elements
- Very high temperatures
- Little water and moisture
- Sand
- Dry air
- Plenty of sunlight
- Rocks
- Sand dunes
Desert Climate
Desert Plants
Cacti are able to store lots of water in their bodies and prevent water loss from evaporation. The small needle like leaves and waxy substance on the plant keep the water from evaporating.
Australian Mulga Trees have funnel like leaves that drain water into the base of its trunk. Water travels from the leaves and along the branches to the ground.
The Agava plant has waxy leaves to keep water inside its body. The leaves are also very fleshy and able to store large amounts of water.
The Mesquite tree has large roots that extend deep into the ground to tap into water aquifers. Most of its body is made up of roots with a small part sticking out of the ground to collect sunlight.
The Palo Verde a shrub that thrives in the desert. It has a waxy green trunk where it stores water and keeps water from evaporating away. When temperatures get extremely high, the tree sheds its leaves.
Desert Animals
Camels rely on the humps on their backs to store water. This allows them to go for long periods of time without needing a water source. The humps are also capable of holding nutrients.
The thorny devil has body shape that drains water into its mouth when it rains. It lives behind rocks or plants in shade to keep its body cool.
Rattlesnakes are nomadic snakes that live in the deserts. They have a rattle on their tail which is what they were named after. Their bodies are extremely efficient and able to go on for months with one meal.
Many scorpions in the deserts spend most of their time underground. Since they are nocturnal, they come out at night to feed and do other activities necessary for their survival.
Meerkats construct complex systems of tunnels underground. They spend most of their lives there living in communities of 30 to 50 meerkats. Living underground protects them from predators, the sun, and the heat of the desert.
Competition and Predator/ Prey Relationships
Some predator and prey relationships include the owl and mandid and the lizard and the grasshopper.
Additional Information
Ecological Concerns
Two endangered animals of the deserts are the desert tortious and the caracal.
Global impact:
Deserts support many ecosystems and habitats that contribute to the Earth's biodiversity. Many plants and animals rely on the desert to live. Sand from deserts also spread to other parts of the world through wind currents.