1. By Elisa Miller Keystone College
DESERTS
By Elisa Miller
Keystone College

2. Deserts Types of Deserts: Hot and Dry Cold Deserts Gobi Desert in Asia
Desert of Antarctica

3. Locations Cover 20% of the Earth’s land mass Latitudes:
15-28° North and South of the equator

4. Locations

5. Climate Less than 10% rainfall per year Hot Deserts: Cold Deserts:
20 to 25° C
Maximum Temperature: 43.5 to 49° C
Cold Deserts:
Winter: -2 to 4° C
Summer: 21 to 26° C
Antarctica: -89.2°C to -93.4°C

6. Special Features Desert animals are small Desert plants:
Don’t have to drink at all
All the water they need from their food
Burrow under ground
Nocturnal
Desert plants:
Hairy leaves

7. Wild Life Hot and Dry Deserts: Cold Deserts: Insects Arachnids
Reptiles
Birds
Mourning Wheatears
Horned Vipers
Cold Deserts:
Antelope
Ground Squirrels
Jack Rabbits
Kangaroo Rats (etc.)

8. Plants Hot and Dry: Cold Deserts: Minimal plant life No plants
Maybe few grass or moss
Lichen
Algae

9. Threats to ecosystem Itself Global warming: Dry up watering holes
Increased number of wildflowers (kill shrubs and slow growing trees)
Irrigation for agriculture:
Increased salt levels in the soil
Grazing animals
Potassium cyanide used in gold mining
Off-road vehicles
Oil and gas production
Nuclear waste may be dumped in deserts
Nuclear testing grounds

10. References http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm

11. Thank You