Right Now, In a place 1400 miles away… Sonoran Desert It is a common stereotype that deserts never get any rain. This is not always the case… The Sonoran Desert in the Southwestern U.S. is one of the wettest deserts in the world, and is home to thousands of plant & animal species – more than any other desert on earth. Find out more about this amazing biome by watching this presentation now… By: jake And Sammie

The Sonoran Desert By Jake & Sammie

The Sonoran Desert is located there. Let’s fly down and take a closer look… On a world map, The Sonoran is generally located in Northwestern Mexico, Baja California, Southwestern Arizona, and Southeastern California The Sonoran covers roughly 120,000 square miles

Climate of the Sonoran Desert The Climate of the Sonoran Desert is classified as “Dry Tropical.” The desert gets almost no rain but stays warm all year ‘round thanks to its low latitude. Summers in the Sonoran Desert are very hot– usually the daytime temperature is over 100°F (38 °C) During the winter months, the temperature hovers around 60°F (15°C) at its coldest. The Sonoran Desert receives less than 10 inches (25cm) of rain per year. Monthly precipitation is usually 1” or below

Don’t I look cuddly? COYOTE JAVELINA GILA MONSTER CACTI BOBCAT DESERT BIGHORN HUMMINGBIRD SONORAN TOAD OCOTILLO

Density-Dependent Factors Major Predator-Prey relationships include the Bobcat and small mammals, owls and rodents, and coyotes and small mammals. Animals that eat cacti, such as the Javelina, battle against a cactus’ spines for a meal. Usually these animals have a special method for eating the cactus. Nesting sites for birds are limited to rocks and cacti. In both cases, birds have to peck a hole to live in. Battles ensue between birds for the same nesting site. Birds also face danger from hawks and the vicious Goliath Tarantula.

Density-Independent Factors A famous event that occurs in deserts is a flash flood. Flash floods occur during a sudden heavy rainfall or when a river floods. Water sweeps through the lanscape, tearing up trees and shrubs and drowning animals. The water is unable to soak into the ground because the desert soil is so dry. Flash floods occur in drier parts of the Sonoran.

The Sonoran Community The Sonoran Desert supports thousands of plants & animals. A typical community is centered in a valley where rainfall creates large, temporary puddles. Toads, birds, and lizards take advantage of this to get a drink and bathe. Deer feed on grass that was freshened up by the rainfall. Bobcats, coyotes, and foxes prey on small mammals that dig burrows here. Javelinas will ‘camp out’ by the rain puddle until it is gone. Saguaro cacti grow so thick in some parts of the desert that the location is referred to as a “Saguaro Forest.” Many birds and small mammals make their homes here in the shade. Many such places have reached the climax community stage.

Problems Caused By The Prescence of Humans The groundwater in Arizona is composed of an aquifer that was formed millions of years ago. This “fossil water” is the main source of freshwater in Arizona, and as a result of its use, the water table in the Senoran Desert has dropped considerably. This water obviously cannot be replaced by rainfall, so when it’s gone, it’s gone. Recklessly driven off-road vehicles trample and destroy endangered plants. Some parts of the desert have been cleared and used as a range for target shooting. Irresponsible shooting and hunting have endangered the Sonoran Pronghorn, Desert bighorn sheep, mountain lion, and bobcat. Many parts of the Sonoran Desert are not protected by law, and the desert is vulnerable to the urban expansion of cities like Phoenix.

Sonoran Desert The Creosote Bush is named that way because it smells a lot like the creosote tar that is used on telephone poles to preserve the wood. The branches of the Teddy Bear Cholla are completely covered with spines. The branches break off easily when brushed against– giving you the impression that the plant “jumped” at you. The Banded Gila Monster can eat huge amounts of food at one time (anything from eggs to small reptiles and rodents). The Gila stores extra fat in its tail, and can live for 3 weeks on fat alone. The Collared Peccary gets the name Javelina because of its razor-sharp tusks. Javelina is the Spanish word for javelin or spear. Fast Facts

Sonoran Desert The Sonoran Desert is home to the Goliath Tarantula, whose body can grow up to 5 inches in length. The Tarantula hunts and kills birds that live in and around Saguaro cacti. The Ocotillo, also called the Vine Cactus, sheds its leaves during extreme dry periods to save water. The Ocotillo can perform photosynthesis without its leaves. The Sonoran toad lives in the shade under rocks, and can be seen swimming in puddles after a rain, or along river banks. The Sonoran toad’s skin is poisonous. Fast Facts

A long time ago, at a computer far, far away…. Sonoran Desert Works cited Web site Reference: Royo, A.R. (2008) Sonoran Desert. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from (Royo 2008) Web site Reference: Elora P. (2003) Sonoran Desert. Retrieved February 7, 2008, from ert.htm (Elora P. 2003) Web site Reference: Simone M. (200) Sonoran Desert Plants. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from ert_plant_page.htm (Simone M. 2000) Web site Reference: Mike D. (2001) Sonoran Desert Animals. Retrieved February 7, 2008, from ert_animals_page.htm (Mike D. 2001) Web site Reference: Hedding, Judy(2007) Climate of Phoenix, AZ Retrieved February 10, 2008, from etemps.htm (Hedding 2007) SPECIAL THANKS TO: (Star Wars™ Fonts) (Star Wars™ Music) Wikipedia, Encarta, DK, and others for pictures Microsoft Map Point for Map THE END