deserts By: Hailey Walter

Desert animals and Adaptations

Scorpions-Hard exoskeletons, metabolism regulation and the ability to avoid temperature extremes allow scorpions to live in difficult environments. Scorpions are common in many of the world's harshest deserts. Many desert scorpions rarely, if ever, drink water. Therefore, scorpions obtain most of their moisture from their prey. . During the day scorpions burrow into the sand or hide underneath rocks or other debris, staying cool while avoiding predators and gaining a vantage point from which to ambush their prey. Roadrunners-It has adapted its physical and mental attributes to survive successfully in the arid desert regions of the southwest. adapted to run at high speed through the desert to remain camouflaged and avoid recognition from predators and to hunt successfully. adapted over its history to reach a large size, of around 2 feet high. The large size of the roadrunner has allowed the bird to prey on larger animals found in the desert, including gophers, mice, rats and snakes. the roadrunner does not require large amounts of water to survive. Along with the water the roadrunner finds in the bodies of its prey the bird also occasionally eats the fruits of the desert plants in its habitat. Long-Eared Jerboa- The long eared jerboa has three main adaptations, it is nocturnal, the jerboa has red and brown fur, and it has hairs on its feet. Being nocturnal is a large advantage because its few existing predators hunt at night. red and brown fur is also an advantage because it blends into its north-western China, sandy habitat. the jerboa has small hairs on its feet so it doesn't sink in the sand.

Desert plant and Adaptation

Desert hyacinth- all-flower bearing parasite plant, growing on roots of desert shrubs. It is a rare and endangered species. It is a widely distributed annual that produces a dense pyramid spike of bright yellow flowers topped by maroon-tinted buds. Its many tiny seeds may remain dormant for years until the roots of its host plant are close enough to trigger germination. The plant is able to tolerate saline environments and is most found in arid regions Desert Cactus-Cactus take advantage of the lightest rainfall by having roots close to the soil surface. The water is quickly collected by the roots and stored in thick, expandable stems for the long summer drought. The fleshy stems of the barrel cactus are pleated like an accordion and shrink as moisture is used up. These pleats also channel water to the base of the plant during rain showers. Cactus continue to photosynthesize because they have fixed spines instead of leaves. The green stems produce the plant's food. Desert Rose-a life span of about 10 years, growing from 1–2 m tall and 1–2 m wide. There are fewer stomata (the pores that release gas in the leaves) or they are protected. The stomata on the Sturt's Desert Rose are found on the underside of the leaf. This means reduced water loss. They have internal water storage. Deep root systems. They are able to reach the water deep under the ground. Desert Roses contains gossypol, a chemical toxic to animals other than ruminants.

Location light parts=deserts red parts=deserts

Climate- It is a Low Latitude climate. Dry Desert climates Climate- It is a Low Latitude climate. Dry Desert climates. All months have average temperatures over 64° F (18° C). Finally, for dry and hot, with average annual temperatures over 64° F (18° C). I guess they're trying to tell us its hot, hot out there. Precipitation- While a desert might have an annual average of five inches of precipitation, that precipitation may come in the form of three inches one year, none the next, 15 inches the third, and two inches the fourth Seasons-Seasons in the arid desert are generally dry and hot, with few occurrences of rain during the winter. Seasons are generally more defined than in the Arid desert, with low rainfalls during the winter. The winters are usually cool and short, while the summers are long and warm The soil is mostly sandy with a high alkaline content, it is also very porous, so rain seeps quite rapidly into the ground in Costal deserts. Unique Facts-Although the daytime temperatures of the desert biome are very hot, they can get very cold at night. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the desert biome. It covers over 300 million square miles. These animals can escape the harsh Sun by hiding under small scrubs or hiding in burrows. Many desert animals tend to be nocturnal, sleeping during the day and coming out at night when the temperatures are more tolerable. Because there is hardly any standing water in the desert biome, animals either store water in their bodies or get their water needs met by the foods they eat. The plants that are able to grow in the desert biome store water in their stem. Some deserts are so hot that when it rains, the water evaporates in the air before ever hitting the ground. The driest desert on Earth receives on average 1 centimeter of rainfall every 5 to 20 years. Because body fat retains heat, most desert animals have an adaptation that allows them to store all their body fat in one area of their body. The camel stores all its body fat in its hump.

The Importance of Deserts Several species of vultures also live in the desert to scavenge on animal remains. The Desert Biome is also important because it has its own ecosystem. Like all other ecosystems, if one species of plant or animal is overpopulating or under-populating, the whole ecosystem will be affected by a ripple effect.

Potential Environmental Problems Because of the lack of rainfall in the desert, plants take longer to grow, which leads to less animals and faster desertification which is a big issue facing our world. Current our deserts cover 1/5 of the world, but because of human activities deserts are expanding. Human activities that harm our deserts are, off road vehicles, they leave tracks in the soil for up to 2 decades, causing looser soil. Also animals that hide in the sand such as the sand viper can be hurt. Collectors continue to take precious cacti from the desert causing extinction, and less plants to hold down the soil. Other issues result from farming and mining, hunting, and development of the deserts. All these activities continue to loosen desert soil. Sandstorms from deserts are now increasing. This is harmful because the dust particles in the air from these storms are small enough to enter your lungs, and cause major issues for humans. Dust is also being deposited in reservoirs, which causes more health concerns.