The Desert
The Desert is one of the driest biomes. The word desert means abandoned. The desert gets a minimal amount of rain which is why it’s one of the driest biomes. There are both hot and cold deserts. Survival in the desert is difficult due to the extreme temperatures and the dryness. One fifth of the Earth is a Desert biome.
Location: Deserts are found along coastlines and also within continents. Hot deserts are found in North America, South America, North Africa, Central Australia and Cold deserts are found in the Antarctic, Greenland and Central Asia.
Weather: Deserts get less that 25 cm or 10 in of rain per year.
Evaporation rates are faster than rainfall rates which keeps the desert very dry. In some deserts, rain doesn’t fall for years. Cold deserts although still dry, get more rainfall (which is in the form of snow or fog) than the hot deserts. In hot deserts, daytime temperatures can be over 38°C and 100° F in the daytime and below –4°C and 25° F in the evening. Temperatures in cold deserts are usually between 0°C and 4°C or 32°F and 39° F.
Seasons: In the hot deserts, the seasons are warm throughout the year and very hot in the summer. In the cold deserts there are long cold winters and short warmer summers. The cold deserts are cold most of the time.
Animals: Desert animals tend to get their water from food. They have a thick outer coat, they tend to have larger ears and they will burrow through the day. Many desert animals have adapted to the harsh environment by being nocturnal. Examples of animals in the desert are rattlesnakes, jack rabbits, lizards, and kit foxes. There are also reptiles, scorpions and grasshoppers.
Plants: The soil is coarse and rocky. Plants typically have few leaves and thick roots to help them retain moisture in the dry climate. The dessert has cacti, smaller bushes and grasses .
Location: Deserts are found along coastlines and also within continents. Hot deserts are found in North America, South America, North Africa, Central Australia and Cold deserts are found in the Antarctic, Greenland and Central Asia.
Weather: Deserts get less that 25 cm or 10 in of rain per year.
Evaporation rates are faster than rainfall rates which keeps the desert very dry. In some deserts, rain doesn’t fall for years. Cold deserts although still dry, get more rainfall (which is in the form of snow or fog) than the hot deserts. In hot deserts, daytime temperatures can be over 38°C and 100° F in the daytime and below –4°C and 25° F in the evening. Temperatures in cold deserts are usually between 0°C and 4°C or 32°F and 39° F.
Seasons: In the hot deserts, the seasons are warm throughout the year and very hot in the summer. In the cold deserts there are long cold winters and short warmer summers. The cold deserts are cold most of the time.
Animals: Desert animals tend to get their water from food. They have a thick outer coat, they tend to have larger ears and they will burrow through the day. Many desert animals have adapted to the harsh environment by being nocturnal. Examples of animals in the desert are rattlesnakes, jack rabbits, lizards, and kit foxes. There are also reptiles, scorpions and grasshoppers.
Plants: The soil is coarse and rocky. Plants typically have few leaves and thick roots to help them retain moisture in the dry climate. The dessert has cacti, smaller bushes and grasses .
Plant and Animal Adaptations
Plants and animals living in the desert must be able to adapt to extreme heat and dryness, and the desert’s harsh environment. The deserts are very hot during the day but will cool during the evening. There is constant sunlight almost daily. Plants and animals also need to be able to adapt to strong winds, limited access to water and extreme temperatures. (The Antarctica is also considered a desert due to the lack of vegetation, however, it is not in- cluded here.)
Plant Adaptations in the Desert Biome
In order for plants to survive in the desert, they have adaptations that allow them to collect and store water and moisture and, prevent moisture loss. The plants in the desert biome store water in their roots, stem, leaves, or fruit. Plants called succulents store water in their stems or leaves. Some of the desert plants have roots that grow deep enough in the ground that they are able to reach the water. Small, spiny leaves of the desert plants prevent evap- oration, helping them to retain moisture. Some plants have glossy leaves that will reflect the sun’s rays which also help them retain moisture. Some plants have a short life cycle, they grow, flower, germinate and die within a year. Some plants will shrink in size during dry times which allow them to use the stored moisture. The plants are often slower growing types which require less energy (food and water).
Examples of Plants found in the Desert:
Sage Bushes, Creosote Bushes, Cacti, Lupine, Indian Paintbrush, Prickly Poppies, Chia, Ghost Flower, Desert Chickory, Prickly Pears, Dragon Trees, Desert Spoons.
Plant Adaptations in the Desert Biome
In order for plants to survive in the desert, they have adaptations that allow them to collect and store water and moisture and, prevent moisture loss. The plants in the desert biome store water in their roots, stem, leaves, or fruit. Plants called succulents store water in their stems or leaves. Some of the desert plants have roots that grow deep enough in the ground that they are able to reach the water. Small, spiny leaves of the desert plants prevent evap- oration, helping them to retain moisture. Some plants have glossy leaves that will reflect the sun’s rays which also help them retain moisture. Some plants have a short life cycle, they grow, flower, germinate and die within a year. Some plants will shrink in size during dry times which allow them to use the stored moisture. The plants are often slower growing types which require less energy (food and water).
Examples of Plants found in the Desert:
Sage Bushes, Creosote Bushes, Cacti, Lupine, Indian Paintbrush, Prickly Poppies, Chia, Ghost Flower, Desert Chickory, Prickly Pears, Dragon Trees, Desert Spoons.
Animal Adaptations in the Desert Biome
Animals of the desert need to adapt to intense heat and lack of water and shelters. Many of the desert animals are only active during the evening when the temperatures are cooler. Other animals burrow during the day to avoid the harsh conditions during the day. It is difficult for large animals to survive the desert due to the lack of shelter to hide from prey. Some animals don’t need to drink water as they get all the water they need from the insects, plants and seeds that they eat. Many desert animals don’t have sweat glands which
lets them retain moisture eliminating the need to drink. Birds have feathers that keep them insulated from the strong heat of the sun. Some rodents have specialized kidneys that return their water to the bloodstream instead of losing it through urination.
Examples of Animals found in the Desert:
Desert animals include many reptiles, insects, birds and small mammals. Camels, Frogs, Lizards, Bobcats, Golden Eagles, Kangaroo Rats, Spadefoot Toads.
Animals of the desert need to adapt to intense heat and lack of water and shelters. Many of the desert animals are only active during the evening when the temperatures are cooler. Other animals burrow during the day to avoid the harsh conditions during the day. It is difficult for large animals to survive the desert due to the lack of shelter to hide from prey. Some animals don’t need to drink water as they get all the water they need from the insects, plants and seeds that they eat. Many desert animals don’t have sweat glands which
lets them retain moisture eliminating the need to drink. Birds have feathers that keep them insulated from the strong heat of the sun. Some rodents have specialized kidneys that return their water to the bloodstream instead of losing it through urination.
Examples of Animals found in the Desert:
Desert animals include many reptiles, insects, birds and small mammals. Camels, Frogs, Lizards, Bobcats, Golden Eagles, Kangaroo Rats, Spadefoot Toads.