1. It’s Always Sunny in Deserts Desert Biome by: Amanda Tsang, Daniel Song, and Bethany Ling

2. Where are they? *Gobi, Turkestan, and Great Indian Desert are known as “Cold Deserts”

3. General Features ● Coarse-textured soil ● Rocky flat ground ● Loose gravel ● No subsurface water (water flow under the surface) due to lack of rainfall & infiltration ● Diverse landscapes with small shrubs, plants and trees

4. Climates ●Sunny, hot ●Hot days, cold nights ●Can go upto 45 C in some deserts ●Precipitation- Less than 25mm (10 inch) per year ●Rains the most in November

5. When Should I visit? ● Best times to visit & view wildlife= Spring and Fall ● Summer is way too hot and temps. can be very cold in the winter ● Look out for the dust storms and quick & violent thunderstorms that are not uncommon. ● When traveling by foot, time your walks when the sun is not as intense (early morning and late afternoon) ● Stay on the main paved roads o Easy to get lost so be informed on your travels ● Carry at least 1 gallon per day/person of drinking water AT ALL TIMES ● Avoid sun exposure at all costs o Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, loose long-sleeve shirts and pants, etc. ● Stay out of mines and away from anything rodent related (Hantavirus)

6. Unique Features... ● Temperatures in some deserts can be so hot that when it rains, the water evaporates before reaching the ground. ● Dust storms can travel hundreds of miles at 1 mile high. ● This biome can be found on every continent except Europe. ● Have less than 10 inches of annual precipitation ● There is less chemical weather, so desert soils coarse-textured and shallow with no subsurface water.

7. Plant Characteristics & Adaptations ● Such a dry climate plants store water in their stems and grow spaced which allows their roots to extend and find water ● Some plants have special means of storing water/conserving the small amounts of water that they are exposed to, such as having few or no leaves. o Ex: Cacti use their spines to protect from predators and have a waxy covering that keeps in moisture ● Varying temperatures during each season o some plants remain dormant during dry periods and wait until water is available to come to life o Conform with seasons of cooler temperature and the most moisture

8. Animal Adaptations ● Animals such as Bats, Raccoons, foxes, snakes etc. Are nocturnal (sleep during the day - hunt in the night). ● Because it is cooler during the night, it makes it easier for animals to hunt. ● Many animals store their body fat in one area, because body fat retains heat. ○ Camels stores all its body fat in their hump.

9. Tourism activities ● Star Wars Tatooine planet in Tunisia ● Sandboarding, Dune buggies, Camel riding ● Dakar Rally in Sahara ● 2 Out of 7 Most mysterious places (Pyramids, Nazsca Lines) ● Cities such as Dubai, Cairo, Las Vegas, etc

10. Environmental Issues ● Recreational activities such as off-roading (dune bashing or rock racing) vehicles can disrupt the soil and landscape causing erosion. o This also harms plants and animal habitats ● The Oil Industry/Gold Mining in the Sahara o As people dig for fossil fuels it could destroy the desert biome, and harm plant and animal life. o Potassium Cyanide (used for gold mining) can poison wildlife v

11. Sources http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_plant_page.htm http://www.environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/desert-threats/ https://sites.google.com/site/desertbiomeofawesomness/environmental-problems http://www.desertusa.com/du_plantsurv.html http://www.legendsofamerica.com/trv-tipsdesert.html http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/desert_biome_facts/167/