Tropical Desert Biome
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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:
–
–
–
–
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.