What is a Desert?

Desert animal adaptations

- Get water from the food they eat - Nocturnal to avoid heat - Leathery skin to prevent water loss - Less mammals, more birds and insects

Desert plant adaptations

-shallow roots -succulents -deep vertical tap root spines -small leaves

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

subtropical desert

A biome prevailing at approximately 30° N and 30° S, with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation.

polar desert

A desert at the poles with ice but little precipitation

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Succession

A series of predictable and orderly changes within an ecosystem over time.

Cuticle

A waxy covering on the surface of stems and leaves that acts as an adaptation to prevent desiccation in terrestrial plants.

Limiting Factor

Any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms.

Cactus adaptations

Cacti have spines or small thick leaves, their stems are responsible for photosynthesis. They perform intermittant photosynthesis to conserve energy. Their leaves are also covered with a waxy cuticle that conserves energy.

stomata (stoma)

Small openings on the underside of a leaf through which oxygen and carbon dioxide can move.

Semiarid Desert

Summers moderately long and dry, hot like deserts. Winters normally bring low concentrations of rainfall. Average rainfall is 2-4 cm annually

Yucca plant adaptation

The yucca plant only opens its stomata at night when evaporation rates are the lowest to conserve water.

Coastal Deserts

These deserts are located along the coasts of continents and have long, warm summers and very cool winters.

Desert Biome

a biome that has little or no plant life, long periods without rain, and extreme temperatures; usually found in hot climates

biological community

a group of interacting populations that occupy the same geographic area at the same time

aridity

being without moisture; extremely dry; parched

Desert rainfall

less than 10 inches per year