oThe majority of deserts are located within 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south latitude. oHot and dry deserts are found in that region around the equator oCold deserts are found near the north and south poles oDeserts are found on nearly every continent

 One fifth of the earth’s surface is desert  The typical temperature range for a hot and dry desert is 68 – 77 degrees, although it can reach up to 110 degrees in the summer  The cold desert can have temperatures from the 60s down to the 20s  Rainfall is nearly non- existent in most African and Asian deserts  Often the rain is evaporated before it hits the ground

Perennials – plants which live for more than one growing season Ephemerals – plants which grow and die in one season The desert plant community, in general, is unique due to the extreme climate A major necessity in desert producers is the ability to take in and retain water, since there is always an extreme shortage of it Some plants have widespread and shallow roots that allow any water that falls to be quickly absorbed Others have extremely deep root systems, reaching down 60 to 80 feet to obtain water

Columnar Cacti – Perennial Daisy - Ephemeral

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Consumers Primary Consumer Some examples are herbivores Similar to producers, they must adapt to the harsh desert climate When there is no water available, they are forced to obtain all the moisture they can get from plants, alone Often move to cooler areas, such as caves, in the summer Mouse

Secondary Consumer Some examples are small carnivores Tertiary Consumer These are large carnivores Snake Desert lizard These include the larger snakes, like the cobra, and aggressive birds, like the hawk. These eat other carnivores. These include cold-blooded organisms, such as the lizard or the tarantula.

There are many mineral resources within the desert. They include copper, iron, lead, zinc, silver, gold, and uranium. This is an enormous copper deposit in the Sonoran Desert. It is about 3300 feet long and 2500 feet wide. Some petroleum areas, which used to be under shallow marine environments, are now under desert environments. This is due to the climate change in those areas.

Human Development – such as building houses or factories Off-Road Vehicles – These severely disturb the environment, and could run over many animals or plants Replacing natural plants with foreign ones – If the domestic plant life is taken out, it could affect the food chain

 Bear-paw Poppy  Desert Bighorn Sheep

References Oracle ThinkQuest Missouri Botanical Garden Stetson N. University of California Museum of Paleontology DesertUSA Jay W. Sharp DesertUSA Jay W. Sharp Bidisha Mukherjee Walter Feller DesertUSA Jay W. Sharp US Geological Survey ThinkQuest Walter Feller Wiki Answers Wiki Answers