Desert Vs. Reef
Ecosystem Comparison Project
Information
Period-6
PAP Biology
Let the comparisons begin!
Abiotic Factors of a Desert
There is very little rainfall in a desert ecosystem (less than 10 inches of rain)
The sunlight is usually very intense because there is little to no cloud coverage
The soil can vary from clay to sand/ gravel.
The skies are usually clear which allows the nights the nights to get cooler.
- Deserts have arid climates
Abiotic Factors of a Reef
- Sunlight
- Temperature
- Rock formations and geography
- Oxygen levels in water
Biotic Factors of a Desert
The dominant plants are desert grasses, cacti, Yucca plants, prickly pears, and turpentine bush.
The most common animals are rabbits and snakes.
Some of the animals found in a desert are ostriches, roadrunners, meerkats, caracals, Texas-horned lizards, black widows, scorpions, desert toads, hawks, and foxes.
Biotic Factors of a Reef
Different Coral species
Sea grasses
Many different fish species
Predator fish species
Eels
Bacteria
- Moss and Fungi
Determinants of Desert Carrying Capacity
Organism #1-Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca)
Color-Distinctive pattern-Black on its back and white on belly.
Adaptations
Killer Whales can swim at speeds of up to 45 kph (28 mph).
Tolerances
Whales have a thick layer of blubber that helps to insulate a whale from heat loss.
Organism #2-Long-Spined Porcupine Fish (Diodon Holocanthus)
Color-Pale in color with large black blotches and smaller black spots. These spots become fewer in number with age.
Adaptations
Tetrodotoxin in their internal organs making them poisonous.
Tolerances
They can increase in size (almost double vertically) reduces the range of potential predators to those with much bigger mouths.
Organism #3-Blue Ring Octopus(Hapalochlaena Maculosa)
Color-Brownish yellow with brown patches or maculae that become electric blue when the organism becomes agitated or alarmed.
Adaptations
When agitated its brown patches turn into bright blue rings.
Tolerances
Small enough to fit into small crevices or holes.
Symbiotic Relationships in the Desert
- Mutualism-Bees pollinate the cacti and depend on it for food.
- Parasitism-Fleas living on the bodies of coyotes and camels.
- Commensalism- The dung beetle depends on others for food and the animals don't care and are not harmed.
Symbiotic Relationships in the Reefs
- Mutualism-Clown fish live in anemones and attract food to them.
- Parasitism-Sea spider and table coral.
- Commensalism- Barnacles living on whales.
Limiting Factors in the Desert
- Water is scarce.
- Food can also be hard to find because of the lack of water.
- It is very hot on the desert during the day and extremely cold during the night.
Limiting Factors in Reefs
- Climate changes affect reefs a lot and can even kill them.
- Pollution from boats and things can get caught in reefs.
- Over fishing can kill reefs because if they are no fish then reefs die.
- Reefs can also get diseases.
Citing Our Sources
http://apesdesertbiomes.weebly.com/biotic-factors.html
http://apesdesertbiomes.weebly.com/biotic-factors.html
http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/apr/papr/rabbit.html
http://www.desertusa.com/reptiles/chuckwalla.html
http://www.in-the-desert.com/lizard.html
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5626E/x5626e05.htm
http://itsecology.weebly.com/aquatic-biotic-and-abiotic-factors.html