2. A Biome: Is a group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms
All of the deserts of the world make up the desert biome.
Dry – 10 inches or 25.4 cm of rain or less per year!
Wide range of temperatures (because of low humidity)
Warmer during the day
Colder at night
Sandy or rocky soil and very little vegetation
9. Salar Desert
A thin layer of water reflects the sky above the Salar Desert, the world's largest
salt flat. As saline lakes evaporate completely, they leave salt flats. These deserts
are also known as playas, sinks, and salt pans.
13. References:
References:
All pictures retrieved from google.com
BioExpedition. (2013). Retrieved from http://bioexpedition.com/desert-biome/
Borade, G. (2013). Buzzle. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/desert-food
chain.html
Buzzle. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/desert-animals-list.html
Desert Biomes. (2000). Retrieved from http://www.worldbiomes.com/biomes_desert.htm
Deserts. (1996-2013). Retrieved from
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/desert-profile/
Dimmitt, M. A. (n.d.). Plant Ecology of the Sonoran Desert Region. Retrieved from
http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_plant_ecology.php?print=y
Food Web Concept. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/food-web-concept-and-applications-
84077181
McDade, D. (n.d.). The Namib Desert. Retrieved from
http://comeseethenamib.weebly.com/human-impact.html
National Geographic. (2013). Retrieved from
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/antarctica-landscapes/
Sharp, J. W. (1996-2013). DesertUSA. Retrieved from
http://www.desertusa.com/mag05/mar/food2.html
TutorVista. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.tutorvista.com/biology/desert-decomposers
Viau, E. A. (1999). World-builders: Hot Desert Food Chain. Retrieved from http://www.world
Hinweis der Redaktion
Arabian, Arabian Peninsula 900,000 mi2. Covered almost entirely by sand; has some of the most extensive stretches of sand dunes in the world. Australian (Great Sandy, Victoria, Simpson, Gibson, and Sturt) , Australia, 890,00 mi2. Covers 1/3 of Australia Great Sandy, Victoria, and Simpson are sandy; Gibson and Sturt are stony. Chihuahuan, North Central Mexico and Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas). 175,000 mi2 Big Bend National Park. Largest North American desert Gobi, 500,000mi2, The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. Kalahari, Southwestern Africa, 350,000 mi2, covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa, Mojave, Southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Nevada)25,000mi2, covering Monte, Argentina 125,000 mi2 The Monte Desert in Argentina is located southeast of the Atacama Desert in Chile, north of the larger Patagonian Desert, and east of the Andes Mountains. Sahara, Northern Africa, 3,500,000 mi2, Largest desert in the world. Fewer than 2 million inhabitants (mostly nomads such as the Tuareg). Crossed by Arab caravans since the 10th century. Sonoran, Southwestern United States (Arizona, California) and parts of Mexico (Baja Peninsula, Sonora) 120,000 mi2 Thar, India and Pakistan, 77,000 mi2, The Thar Desert also known as the Great Indian Desert is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent and forms a natural boundary running along the border between India and Pakistan Google: deserts of the world
Biotic factors Very few plants or animals Plants and animals have adaptations that help them to survive with very little water and extreme temperatures. Scorpions, coyotes, snakes, spiders, lizard, and cacti. Abiotic factors An area that receives 25 cm of rain or less in a year There is a wide range of temperatures Rocky or sandy soil Sand, Sunlight, water, air and temperature
Many plants are found in the desert, they get their nutrients from the sun. They usually grow close to the ground. These plants have special parts that help them save water. The special parts are: thick stem, shallow and wide roots, and thick skin covered with spines instead of leaves.
Scorpion, Gila Monster, Milk Snake, Coral Snake, Roadrunner, Thorny Devil, Kangaroo Rat, Camel Most animals are nocturnal, they had to adapt to consuming very little water and most of them will get their water intake from plants.
A food chain shows which animals eat other animals or plants. Plants don’t eat things. A food chain starts with what gets eaten and the arrows point towards what does the eating. Food chains only go in one direction. Desert Food Chain: Plants are the producers that capture the energy from the sun and initiate the flow, becoming the first link in the chain. Plant-eating animals – the herbivores, or “primary” consumers – become the second link in the food chain. Flesh-eating animals – the carnivores, or “secondary” and even “tertiary” consumers. Scavengers, or the detritivores, become the next link in the food chain, and microorganisms. Decomposers, the final consumer link. Decomposers free up nutrients for recycling within the food chain. In a desert the sun gives of nutrients to the plants, lizards feed of bugs and plants, snakes will feed of mice and lizards. Hawks consume those listed, foxes will eat dead hawks, rodents, and will be eaten by lions.
Animals that live in Antarctica rely on other animals as a food source.Despite all that snow and ice, there is very little precipitation, so Antarctica is considered a desert. Antarctica has no trees or bushes. Even here the sun plays a role in the food chain. The sun gives off nutrients to the marine plant called phytoplankton. Small shrimp, krill, small fish and squid eat this. The second layer would include predators as penguins, seals, fish and whales. The third layer would be the killer whale who feeds on all previously listed animals. Never leave out the human being who hunts.
Arctic Hare, Polar Bear,Snow Wolf, Arctic Owl, Penguins, Shrimp, Krill, Fish, Penguins, Seals, Fish and Whales.
Sun gives nutrients to saltbush, The golden viscachas rat feed of the salt bush. The Viscachas rat has three sets of incisors that give it strength to rip the leaves off the salt bush. It excretes most of the salt taken in through the high salt content in its kidneys. Three Flamingos varieties (James, Andean and Chilean) frequent the salt flats and Chilean flamingos feed on diatoms, algae and aquatic invertebrates, such as brine shrimp. James and Andean flamingos feed on small diatoms exclusively.
Even in this oldest desert one can find life: Gazelles, antelopes and ostriches and a few elephants. Several species of lizards, fog-beetles and black bagged jackals. Once in a while one can observe coastal lions lying in wait.