Transcript Tropical Desert Biome

Tropical Desert Biome
Kate K.
Tori C.
Chris T.
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/coll/484471564/)
Climate Characteristics
 Average
Annual Temperature: 22.8 C
 Temperature Range: 21.2 C
http://www.rainbowgardensbookshop.com/f18.jpg
Average Annual Precipitation: 43.8 mm
 Other Limiting Factors:
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Extreme Temperature Differences
Little Vegetation
Sparse Animal Population
Clear and Sunny, Limited Shade
Geographic Location
Main Locations:
•Saudi Arabia
•Southwest
United States
•Sahara Desert
Sahara Desert
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm
*Light Yellow Represents
Tropical Deserts
http://enviro-map.com/maps/sahara_map.jpg
Flora and Fauna
 Rules
of Adaptation:
– Beat the Heat
– Every Drop of Water
Counts
http://www.flickr.com/photos/backlitcoyote/1356976549/
Flora Adaptations
 General:
– Small leaves conserve water
– Deep roots collect groundwater
– Drop leaves to survive during dry spells
– Widely spread roots collect water after
rain showers.
 Sage
Brush: wax coated leaves
minimize transpiration
 i.e. Cacti, Creosote Bush,
wildflowers, mosses, lichens
(Living In The Environment)
Fauna Adaptations
 General:
– Thick shells to minimize water loss
– Small size
– Sparse populations
– Dry feces and urine concentrate
 Spiders:
Collect water from dew,
dormant during extreme heat
 i.e. coyotes, snakes, owls, lizards
(Living in the Environment)
Degree of Biodiversity
 Very
low species diversity
 This is caused by lack of resources
and extreme climate
Biomass Pyramid
Secondary Consumers:
coyotes, snakes,
lizards, foxes,
owls, and hawks
Primary Consumers:
birds, insects, rodents, and other
seed-eating herbivores,
Producers:
Evergreens (with wax coated leaves), desert perennials,
perennial shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, mosses and
lichens
Bibliography
Ritter, Michael E. The Physical Environment: an Introduction to
Physical Geography.
2006. October 19, 2008.
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/
title_page.html
Benders-Hyde, Elizabeth M. "Desert Biomes." Blue Planet
Biomes. 2000. 17 Oct. 2008
<http://http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm>.
Miller, Jr., G. Tyler. Living in the Environment. 12th ed.
Belmont, Ca.: Thomson Learning, 2002. 132-36.