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Desert
The driest biome on Earth
Desert
• Extreme
temperaturesVery hot during
the day and cool
at night
Desert
• Very little
rainfall
• Less than
25 cm
precipitation
yearly
Desert
• The soil ranges
from gravel to
sand.
• Soil is nutrient
poor.
Plants of the Desert
Desert plants have evolved adaptations
to help them survive in the extreme
temperatures and dryness of this biome.
Examples:
•Cactus
•Wildflowers
•Mesquite
•Creosote
•Joshua trees
•Cactus
Plants of the Desert
Saguaro
Prickly Pear
Plants of the Desert
•Mesquite
Plants of the Desert
•Joshua tree
Plants of the Desert
•Wildflowers
Plants of the Desert
•Creosote
Plants of the Desert
Desert plants have evolved adaptations to help them survive in
the extreme temperatures and dryness of this biome.
FLORA ADAPTATIONS:
FLORA ADAPTATIONS:
- succulents, store water in their
stems or leaves;
- some have no leaves or small
seasonal leaves that only grow
after it rains
- leafless plants conduct
photosynthesis in their green
stems
- long root systems spread out
wide or go deep into the ground to
absorb water;
- leaves with hair help shade the
plant, reducing water loss
- others have leaves that turn
throughout the day to expose a
minimum surface area to the heat
- some have spines to discourage
animals from eating plants for
water;
- waxy coating on stems and
leaves help reduce water loss.
http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/
Animals of the Desert
The animals of the desert are
adapted to the hot temperatures.
Examples:
•Lizards
•Kangaroo rat
•Camels
•Gila Monster
•Snakes
•Predatory birds
•Scorpions
•Tarantula
Animals of the Desert
•Lizards
Desert Iguana
Frilled Lizard
Animals of the Desert
•Camel
Animals of the Desert
•Snakes
Diamondback Rattlesnake
Sidewinder
Animals of the Desert
•Scorpion
Animals of the Desert
•Kangaroo rat
Animals of the Desert
•Gila Monster
Animals of the Desert
•Predatory birds
Great Horned Owl
Kestrel
Animals of the Desert
•Tarantula
Animals of the Desert
ADAPTATIONS: The animals of the desert are adapted to the hot
temperatures.
The two main adaptations that desert animals must make are how to deal
with lack of water and how to deal with extremes in temperature.
- Many desert animals avoid the heat of the desert by simply staying out of it
as much as possible.
- most desert animals get their water from the food they eat: succulent plants,
seeds, or the blood and body tissues of their prey.
- Desert animals prevent water leaving their bodies in a number of different
ways.
- Some, like kangaroo rats and lizards, live in burrows which do not get too
hot or too cold and have more humid (damp) air inside. These animals stay in
their burrows during the hot days and emerge at night to feed.
- Other animals have bodies designed to save water. Scorpions and wolf
spiders have a thick outer covering which reduces moisture loss.
- The kidneys of desert animals concentrate urine, so that they excrete less
water.
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/adaptations/desert.htm