The Desert By: Danny Hinks, Stephen Hatala, and Henry Colby

Geologic Features Dry Little vegetation Drought tolerant

Temperature Change seasonally and daily Maximum It could reach is 50 degrees Celsius during the day and minimum of - 30 degrees Celsius at night Most deserts are prone to droughts

Types Of Plants Various amount of plants in the desert Spines thorns and poisons are adaptations to protect against herbivores With rainfall as a major limiting factor, vegetation in deserts varies greatly Areas that receive more rainfall produce a shrub community that may include drought- resistant trees such as mesquite Some plants in the desert perform a certain type of photosynthesis called (CAM) photosynthesis, which allows the plants to retain more water than a usual plant

Types Of Animals Many desert animals are small herbivores that hide during the day to stay out of the heat, and come out at night to get food Animals such as the kangaroo rat get their water they need from the water contents in their food Coyotes, hawks, owls and roadrunners are carnivores that feed on the snakes, lizards, and small mammals of the desert

Human Impact On The Desert Many types of human activities hurt the desert, off roading is one of these activities. Their vehicles leave tracks, which can kill vegetation and scar the soil. When vegetation is harmed, so are the animals. When vegetation decreases in population, in off roading areas, so does the animal population. Animals that hide in the sand can also be harmed. For example the sand viper, which hides so well in the soil, can become an accidental victim of off roading mayhem.

Commercial Value of the Desert Camping, hiking, rock climbing, bird-watching and other recreational activities contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to local and regional economies. Homes located near open spaces within the desert enjoy premium real estate values. The military makes use of the desert’s wide-open spaces to test new airplanes and to train on-the-ground combat forces.

Works sited slide esert.html Biology the dynamics of life by national geographic Google.com