The Desert BiomeThe Desert Biome

Desert CharacterizationDesert Characterization

A Desert is a region A Desert is a region on Earth which on Earth which receives less that receives less that 10in of annual rain 10in of annual rain fall, and is generally fall, and is generally taken over by high taken over by high temperatures.temperatures.

Deserts cover one Deserts cover one fifth of all of Earth’s fifth of all of Earth’s surfacessurfaces

TemperatureTemperature

Annual temperature Annual temperature ranges from 20-25º.ranges from 20-25º.

Many deserts receive Many deserts receive little rainfall.little rainfall.

The heaviest rainfall The heaviest rainfall occurs most occurs most frequently in April or frequently in April or May.May.

Average TemperaturesAverage Temperatures

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

AverageDay Temp.(Celcius)

AverageNightTemp.

(Celcius)

Hot Desert

Semiarid Desert

Costal Desert

Formation of a DesertFormation of a Desert

Many deserts have been formed by the Many deserts have been formed by the flow of air masses over the planet.flow of air masses over the planet.As the earth turns on it’s axis, it makes As the earth turns on it’s axis, it makes huge air swirls causing the hot air to rise huge air swirls causing the hot air to rise over the equator and flow north and over the equator and flow north and southward.southward.This in turn sucks up moisture while This in turn sucks up moisture while warming the land which causes it to warming the land which causes it to become dry. become dry.

Desert SoilDesert Soil

Caliche is a reddish-Caliche is a reddish-brown to white layer of brown to white layer of soil found in many desert soil found in many desert solids. solids. This type of soil is formed This type of soil is formed by plants releasing water by plants releasing water and carbon dioxide from and carbon dioxide from their. their. Soils that form in arid Soils that form in arid climites mineral soils and climites mineral soils and have low organic have low organic contents. contents.

Water ChannelsWater Channels

In the desert, underground In the desert, underground channels carry water from channels carry water from mountains that are most of the mountains that are most of the time near by into the desert. time near by into the desert. If the channels were not If the channels were not covered by the soil it the water covered by the soil it the water would evaporate.would evaporate.Moisture in the desert can Moisture in the desert can come from sources such as come from sources such as rain, sweat, dew, pools, lakes, rain, sweat, dew, pools, lakes, sap, and breath, these sap, and breath, these evaporate quickly in the hot evaporate quickly in the hot air. air.

WindsWinds

A desert wind can A desert wind can vary from a warm vary from a warm breeze to a sand breeze to a sand storm.storm.

Wind sometimes even Wind sometimes even sandblasts rocks sandblasts rocks which will then build which will then build sand dunes which sand dunes which can become 200 can become 200 meters highmeters high

AnimalsAnimals

Animals in the desert must survive in a hostile Animals in the desert must survive in a hostile environment. Intense heat, searing sun, and lack environment. Intense heat, searing sun, and lack of water are just a few of the challenges facing of water are just a few of the challenges facing desert animals. desert animals. Animals that live in the desert have many Animals that live in the desert have many adaptations. adaptations. Some animals adapt by spending most of the Some animals adapt by spending most of the day underground and out of the hot sun. day underground and out of the hot sun. Some animals rarely spend any time above Some animals rarely spend any time above ground. ground.

Plant an Animal Species Plant an Animal Species

Only second to the Only second to the Rainforest, the Desert Rainforest, the Desert has the most variety has the most variety of plant and animal of plant and animal species. species.

Though many desert Though many desert plants look different plants look different than plants in other than plants in other Biomes. Biomes.

AddaxAddax

The color of the addax The color of the addax varies widely between varies widely between individuals, but there is individuals, but there is always a mat of dark-always a mat of dark-brown hair on the brown hair on the forehead, and both sexes forehead, and both sexes have thin, spiral horns. have thin, spiral horns. The addax has adapted The addax has adapted to walking on soft sand, to walking on soft sand, and they never drink, and they never drink, obtaining all the moisture obtaining all the moisture they need from their food, they need from their food, which includes which includes succulents. succulents.

Cactus WrenCactus Wren

. Cactus wrens are . Cactus wrens are found in areas with found in areas with thorny shrubs, cacti thorny shrubs, cacti and trees and forage and trees and forage mostly on the ground mostly on the ground around vegetation for around vegetation for insects, such as insects, such as beetles, ants, wasps beetles, ants, wasps and grasshoppers, and grasshoppers, and occasionally and occasionally lizards or small frogs. lizards or small frogs.

Desert Night LizardDesert Night Lizard

The desert night lizard The desert night lizard varies in coloration over varies in coloration over its range but is marked its range but is marked with many small dark with many small dark spots. spots. Night lizards give birth to Night lizards give birth to live young. live young. It frequents yucca plants It frequents yucca plants and agaves and feeds on and agaves and feeds on termites, ants, beetles termites, ants, beetles and flies, which it finds and flies, which it finds among vegetation or among vegetation or rocks.rocks.

Blind Western SnakeBlind Western SnakeIt lives almost anywhere where It lives almost anywhere where there is sandy or gravelly soil there is sandy or gravelly soil suitable for burrowing and suitable for burrowing and spends much of its life below spends much of its life below ground, occasionally emerging ground, occasionally emerging at dusk on warm evenings or at dusk on warm evenings or on overcast days. on overcast days. It feeds on ants and termites, It feeds on ants and termites, which it locates by smell, and which it locates by smell, and with its slender body, it can with its slender body, it can enter right into their nests. enter right into their nests.

Thorny DevilThorny Devil

Its body is covered with Its body is covered with bristles with large, conical bristles with large, conical spines, and it has spines spines, and it has spines above each eye and a spiny above each eye and a spiny hump behind its head. hump behind its head. It is a slow-moving creature, It is a slow-moving creature, which forages for its food, which forages for its food, mainly ants and termites, on mainly ants and termites, on the ground. the ground.

VultureVultureIts powerful hooked bill cuts Its powerful hooked bill cuts easily into carrion, and its bare easily into carrion, and its bare head and neck save lengthy head and neck save lengthy feather-cleaning after plunging feather-cleaning after plunging deep into a messy carcass. deep into a messy carcass. The immense broad wings, The immense broad wings, with widely spaced primary with widely spaced primary feathers, are ideal for soaring feathers, are ideal for soaring and gliding for long periods. and gliding for long periods.

SaguaroSaguaroCactus Cactus

The green stem of the The green stem of the Saguaro Cactus stores all of Saguaro Cactus stores all of its water.its water. Photosynthesis occurs in the Photosynthesis occurs in the top layer of the stem instead of top layer of the stem instead of in leaves. Under ground this in leaves. Under ground this cactus has another adaptation cactus has another adaptation that is hidden from us, its that is hidden from us, its roots. roots. Theses roots extend far away Theses roots extend far away from its trunk. The roots collect from its trunk. The roots collect water after rain and is then water after rain and is then Stored in the stem,the water Stored in the stem,the water keeps the saguaro alive until keeps the saguaro alive until the next rainfall. the next rainfall.

Fish Hook CactusFish Hook Cactus

The fish hook shaped The fish hook shaped spines of the Fish spines of the Fish Hook Cactus help Hook Cactus help divert heat and shade divert heat and shade the growing tip of the the growing tip of the plant.plant.Many barrels lean Many barrels lean further toward the sun further toward the sun as they grow. Some as they grow. Some may eventually uproot may eventually uproot themselves. themselves.

Barrel CactusBarrel Cactus

The pleated shape of The pleated shape of the Barrel Cactus the Barrel Cactus allows it to expand allows it to expand when it rains and when it rains and store water in its store water in its spongy tissue. spongy tissue.

It shrinks in size It shrinks in size during dry times as it during dry times as it uses the stored water. uses the stored water.

Just a little QuizJust a little Quiz

In what months does the heaviest rainfall In what months does the heaviest rainfall occur?occur?

What has more of a variety of plants than What has more of a variety of plants than the desert?the desert?

Which animal is the one covered in bristles Which animal is the one covered in bristles and spines?and spines?

Quiz AnswersQuiz Answers

April or May.April or May.

The Rainforest.The Rainforest.

Thorny Devil.Thorny Devil.

The EndThe End