Temperate Desert By: Manuela Mur

Kayla ApplebySamandra Girma

Two Names

- Temperate desert

- Cold desert

Biome Location/Climate

Location: California, Colorado,(southwest

america)abotic factors: Rain,Ph ,temperature,

sunlight levels,darkness levels,etc.

Mojave Desert (California)

Biome Location/Climate

● Temperate deserts of continental

regions have low rainfall and

strong temperature contrasts

between summer and winter.

● The temperate desert has

characteristics such as very

pronounced drought season and a

short humid season.

●Most precipitation falls in the

winter,winters are long and cold

with temperatures falling below

32

Climate Graph

Nutrient Flow Diagram

Animals

Prairie Rattlesnake

Road Runner

Desert Camel

Gila Monster

Gobi Jerboa

Botta’s Serotine

Animal Cont’d.

-Prairie Rattlesnake: in the cool spring and fall weather the rattlesnake hunts in the

daytime while the hotter summer days force it to hunt at night,predator; lives in a

desert shrub habitat

-Desert camel: stores water and fat in its large humps

- Gobi jerboa: the jerboa eats insects,plants,and seeds. Depends on its food to meet the

need for water. The jerboa will never actually drink free water throughout its life

- Roadrunner: eats rattlesnakes,lizards, and insects.

Botta’s S

erotine: f

ound in almost a

ll

habitats e

xcept fo

r true d

esert,

They are

insectivorous (e

at insec

ts). Are

NOT blind

Gila Monster: Found under rocks, in

burrows of other animals and in holes

it digs itself. Venomous lizard.

Plants

Bursage is a drought

deciduous plant, drops its

leaves in times of drought

to preserve water

Prickly Pear

Ball Cactus

Desert Spoon Cactus

Bursage plant

Prickly pear plant

has thick leaves to

store water in

times of drought

Desert spoon cactus is a

deciduous plant,. The

flowers are carried on a

stalk that comes from the

center and grows up to 12

ft.

Energy Flow

Food pyramid

Pyramid of Numbers & Pyramid of Biomass

Cont’d. Energy Flow

Cactus -> Ant -> Snake -> Fox

Food Chain

Food Web

Gross Primary Productivity/Photosynthesis/Net Productivity

● Photosynthesis occurs in desert plants by having open stomates all night.They

take in CO2 and it is stored in the form of an intermediate (converted to an acid)

and is used during the day for photosynthesis(when the stomates are closed).

Everything else is the same in other plants.

●

- Lowest plant primary productivity

of all biomes

Succession: How does it occur?● Primary succession in (temperate) deserts can happen in many places, an

example would be in a sand dune. Either bacteria or seeds find a foothold where

there is increased moisture and protection. Then roots are put down from

biofilms; this helps stabilize the upper layer of soil and also helps break down

rocks. Then, the new and improved soil can hold more moisture and support other

plants. After some repetition of this, the desert ecosystem will be able to support

grasses and woody shrubs (if there is enough water, of course).

● Secondary succession occurs when there was a previously existing community,,

but now it has been removed. In the desert, there can be a fire, a flash flood

scouring, or land clearing. Although after these things happen and succession is

set back, the soil is already developed, so it’s okay.

● Secondary succession happens much faster than primary succession

MDC: America

● Off roading, when humans run the

vehicles all over the desert soil, it

carves tracks into the soil that

messes up the land for many years.

● Humans remove fossil water from

reservoirs, and once the water is

gone it’s gone for good. (Water

Deprivation)

● Military excercises can cause

damage to the plants and the soil in

the desert.

● Trenching that deals with

underground pipelines can cause the

surface to be damaged and unstable.

This issue will take over 30 years to

fix once it has happened.

How is the destruction handled?

- People have begun to

use off-road vehicles

on specific trails and

roadways.

- Humans are learning to use existing water sources and are learning to have better control on salinization to improve dry lands.

- Humans have gained knowledge of

their destruction and are finding

better ways to rotate crops, so they

can protect the fragile soil.

Bibliography

● Society, National Geographic. "Desert Threats, Endangered Species -

National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.

● "The Desert Biomes." Human Impacts -. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.

● Haneef, Deena T Kochunni Jazir. "Difference between Gross Primary

Productivity and Net Primary Productivity." Major Differences. N.p., n.d.

Web. 21 Sept. 2016.

● Bradley, Katherine. "Difference between Tropical and Temperate Deserts."

People of Our Everyday Life. Studio D, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.

● Becker, Andrea. “Ecological Succession in the Desert.” Education. N.p., n.d.

Web. 21 Sept. 2016.