Desert Biome Description

DESERT BIOME
The desert biome is one that is very hot and dry. They are found at the lower
latitudes, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Light winds occur
often which evaporates any type of moisture that is typically going to develop in them. The
heat is very dry and that makes it hard for too many types of plants or animals to be able
to survive in such biomes. Approximately 20% of the Earth falls into this category.
Some of the desert biomes are extremely large. For example the Sahara desert in
Africa is more than 3.5 million square miles in size. Others are extremely dry. For example
the Atacama Desert in Chile is a place that gets about ½ an inch of precipitation annually.
It never rains there the precipitation comes from the fog.
The desert biome has two extremes that make it difficult to survive. First, it is
extremely hot and second, it is extremely dry. Most people don’t realize though that it can
be come cold as the sun goes down in the desert. This is because there are very few trees
or other elements there to retain any heat. The changes in the temperatures can be very
harsh for a human which is why it can be so dangerous to be exploring in the desert on
your own.
That says it all when most people consider what this particular area is going to be like.
Many desert biomes can go several years at a time without any rainfall at all. It will depend
though on the exact location as there is quite a bit of difference when you consider the
conditions on these environments.
Characteristics
A desert biome is one that receives less than 10 inches of annual precipitation.
What some people don’t realize is that a desert can be extremely hot during the day but
then very cool at night. The extreme changes in temperature from day to night can make
it very hard for living things to successfully thrive in such an environment.
Many desert biomes are formed in areas not too far from mountain locations.
Scientists believe that this is the result of a rain shadow. The process involves air moving
up and over the mountain range. As it moves though it gets cooler which means it is harder
for it to retain any moisture. That is when it will rain or even snow if the temperatures are
cool enough.
However, the opposite is going to occur as the air is moving down the other side
of the mountain. It is going to get warmer as it moves downward. This warm air though is
going to hold on to the moisture in it. When you are talking about temperatures that easily
exceed 100 degrees in many desert biomes that is why it hardly ever is going to rain in
these locations.
Fauna
There is very limited types of plant and animal life that are able to live in the desert
biome. Those that do live in the desert biome have learned to adapt to the temperatures.
They have also learned to survive with very little water and very little food. The majority of
the animals living in the desert biome are nocturnal. This means they sleep during the
heat of the day and they are active at night when the sun goes down.
Desert animals don’t need to feed very often which is why almost all of them are
very small. They also don’t need to find water independently. They get the water they need
from their sources of food. Ants are quite plentiful in the desert biome. They create
underground tunnels where they are able to stay out of the heat.
A variety of rodents including mice and the shrew live in these conditions as well.
The desert biome is also where you will find the tarantula. These spiders are very
dangerous and they don’t seem to mind the harsh conditions either. Medium sized animals
found living in the desert biome include rabbits, rattlesnakes, and porcupines.
Of course there are larger animals in the desert biome as they are able to feed on
the small ones. Don’t be surprised if you find the puma, bobcat or dingo around. In various
areas of the desert biome there are deer living there that they will find upon. In certain
desert locations you will also find camels.
One of the living creatures in the desert biome that thrives with these harsh
conditions is the Gila Monster. It is a very aggressive type of retile. It feeds on eggs and
on small mammals. This creature needs the heat for its body to stay regulated. It can be
active both during the day and the night. They are very dangerous to humans due to the
toxic venom that is produced when they bite.
Flora
In order for any plants to survive in the desert biome, they have to be able to collect
and store what water is present. They also have to be able to reduce the water evaporating
from them. The cactus is the number one plant you will find living in a desert biome. The
design of this plant makes it possible for them to hold onto the moisture they have.
The hard leaves make it possible for them to handle the extreme changes in
temperature from day to night that occur in a desert biome. The cactus also has a hairy
texture that helps the plants to reflect the heat from the sun. This is why they are able to
withstand that high level of heat without suffering.
In the Canary Islands you will find the Dragon Tree living. That is the only desert
biome where it grows. It has a long truck and then wide leaves that are very hard. It can
create a sap that is very dark red in color. The aloe plant is also found in the desert biome.
Aloe has always been a very important type of natural healing medicine. It helps to soothe
burns and to promote healing.
Global Warming
The future for the desert biome is one that many worry about. Issues including
global warming continue to cause changes to the natural pattern of weather behaviors.
The desert is already extremely dry and hot. Should those temperatures continue to
increase then there could be problems for the plants and animals that live there.
When you combine that with the possibility of additional heat is going to reduce the
already low amount of rainfall, it could spell out disaster. These plants and animals are
already surviving with so little. It would be next to impossible for them to be able to continue
to thrive in such an environment with even less. There are already projections that claim
the diversity of plants and animals in the desert biome will decrease by at least 15% over
the next 50 years.

Desert Biome Description

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Desert Biome Description

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Desert Biome Description

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DESERT BIOME

You might also like