Transcript Slide 1
Basic Information The desert biome is found in northern Africa, western North America, western Asia, the center of Australia, and on the west coast of South America. There are several types of deserts: arid, semi-arid, coastal, hot, and cold. Temperature: Hot and Dry Deserts temperature ranges from 20 to 25° C. The extreme maximum temperature for Hot Desert ranges from 43.5 to 49° C. Cold Deserts temperature in winter ranges from -2 to 4° C and in the summer 21 to 26° C a year. Precipitation: Hot and Dry Deserts usually have very little rainfall and/or concentrated rainfall in short periods between long rainless periods. This averages out to under 15 cm a year. Cold Deserts usually have lots of snow. They also have rain around spring. This averages out to 15 - 26 cm a year. Solar Insolation: Hot and Dry Deserts are warm throughout the fall and spring seasons and very hot during the summer. The winters usually have very little, if any, rainfall. Cold Deserts have quite a bit of snow during winter. The summer and the beginning of the spring are barely warm enough for a few lichens, grasses and mosses to grow. Limiting factors: temperature (intense heat), searing sun, lack of water (rainfalls; active liquid water) Species Diversity Many of the fascinating features of desert plants are adaptations -- traits that help the plant survive in its harsh environment. Desert plants have two main adaptations: • Ability to collect and store water • Features that reduce water loss Many desert plants are designed to store water or extend their roots deep into the Earth's surface allowing them to survive (cactus, Acacia trees). Other plants may remain dormant until a big rainfall where they then emerge from the desert sand, grow and reproduce before becoming dormant again (grasses and flowering plants). Plants of the desert include: ocotillo, saguaro cactus, turpentine Bush, Prickly Pears, Mesquite Bush and Brittle Bush Animals that live in the desert have many adaptations. Some animals never drink, but get their water from seeds (some can contain up to 50% water) and plants. Animals are nocturnal due to the hot temperatures of the day (mammals and birds). However, there are few animals that may be active throughout the day (snakes and lizards). Animals of the desert include: snakes, lizards, kangaroo rats, camels, coyotes, wolves, foxes, peccaries, tarantulas, scorpions, ring tailed cats, antelope, skunks, mule deer, boars, hawks, falcons, owls, roadrunners, buzzards, eagles, rabbits, and deer Food Chain Hawk Snake Cactus Rodent Energy lost as heat Did you that that…? • About 20 percent of the world’s surface is covered by deserts • Cactus lovers are known as catophiles World's Largest Deserts Desert Location Sahara North Africa Gobi Square Miles Square Kilometers 3,500,000 9,065,000 Mongolia-China 500,000 1,295,000 Kalahari Southern Africa 225,000 582,000 Great Victoria Australia 150,000 338,500 Great Sandy Australia 150,000 338,500