Brandy Norville

 A desert is a region with little rain fall.  Less than 10in a year.  Doesn’t have to be sand.  Four major types.  Arid, semi-arid, coastal, and cold.  Soil does have nutrients.  1/5 of the Earth’s land is covered by desert.

 They are usually found 30 degrees north and south of the equator.

 Arid:  Hot & dry, sandy or rocky soil, trees and shrubs, nocturnal animals, little rain & little humidity.  Semiarid: rocky soil, low rainfall, many animals burrow

 Coastal: cool winters, moderate salt content in soil, 8-13cm of rain, thick foliage  Cold: snowfall, silty soil, Plants are scattered, burrowing animals

 Plants:  Seeds can lay dormant for years.  Modified leaves.  Thick waxy cuticles.  CAM.  Shallow roots.

 Animals:  Camels temperature range degrees.  Large appendages  Thick fur  Special kidneys  Nocturnal

 Global warming  Drought  Fires  Grazing animals/irrigation