Mojave Desert
• Hottest US desert (Death Valley included)
up to 130°F and down to 35°F
• Only winter rains from California ~5in/yr
• Plants – low shrubs, schlerophylous
leaves, drop in drought
• Dominant Plant – Joshua Tree
• Animals, Mojave rattlesnakes, kangaroo
mice, scorpions
• Recycle water, extract from foods eaten
• NW AZ - Kingman, Lake Havasu City,
Bullhead City
Mojave Desert
Wildflowers-Death Valley 2005
Chihuahuan Desert
• Higher elevations drop below freezing in
winter, up to 120°F
• Plants – shrubs, small cacti, yucca; can
store water during extreme seasons
• Animals include; ground squirrels,
chihuahuan desert whiptailed lizards and
rattlesnakes –burrow during the heat
• Rains during summer monsoons >10in/yr
SE AZ - Douglas
Chihuahuan Desert
The desert after an El Nino year
Sonoran Desert – our home
• Average 50°F in winter, as high as 134°F
in summer
• Receives the most rain 2 rainy seasons –
summer and winter which makes it the
greenest desert in the world up to 15in/yr
• Dominant Plant – Saguaro Cactus; 2000
other species, withstand high temps,
absorb and store water
• Animals; Diamondback rattlesnakes,
Harris Hawks, Roadrunners, gila monster
Phoenix, Tucson
Sonoran Desert
The roots of the saguaro are very shallow!
They can blow over in a storm.
Lots of Mexican
poppies and a
saguaro cactus
Riparian Habitats – along
streams and rivers
• Many rivers underground, run after winter
snowmelts
• Most endangered AZ habitat
• Rivers dammed, pumped, contaminated
• Huge cottonwood trees, fill from flash floods
• Animals; frogs, salamanders, birds migrate
• Temps 10 degrees cooler here
Major AZ rivers;
San Pedro, Colorado, Salt, Gila
Gila River
Salt River- rattlesnake crossing
Trends to biome location:
Lower elevations tend to be deserts
and grassland. Higher elevations
tend to be tundra or taiga.
Deserts and grasslands get the least
rain. Forests get the most.
Why do animals only live in
certain places?
The soil type and rain fall
determines what plants live in a
biome.
The plants determine what
animals live in the biome.
Cool Places To Visit
Lake Powell
Bright blue waters against sandstone cliffs.
Rainbow Bridge
Grand Canyon
A great place for adventure or
quiet solitude.
Hiking
• There are
hundreds of miles
of trails to hike.
• Some are more
rugged than
others.
• Bring plenty of
water-at least a
gallon per person!
North Rim-fewer visitors
Sedona
Red Rock Country
Portal
Not well known
• Great for
camping, hiking,
and birding.
• Not many people
travel down this
way
Chirichahua Mountains
Strange Rock
Formations
• Initially
created by
volcanic
action,
these rock
formations
change
shape due
to
weathering.
Sunset Crater
Great place to see old lava
flows up close
Painted Desert/Petrified Forest
Petrified Wood
Canyon de Chelly National
Monument
Remote Beauty
• To get to the
back areas
which are the
most beautiful,
it requires a
guide.
Havasupai Reservation
Havasu waterfall
• Very beautiful
falls
• A great reward
after a long hike.
Ramsey Canyon
Leaves Galore
• One of the best
places to see fall
colors.
Wildlife Viewing Is Excellent
Which biome are we missing?
• Temperatures are consistantly high (68°F
– 93°F) throughout the year
• Precipitation is light but consistent
throughout the year (50-260in/yr)
• Soil is moist but does not hold many
nutrients
• Plants have large leaves, shallow roots
• Animals live in trees, many insects
• There is more biodiversity here than any
other place on land
• Found near the equator
Bibliography
• Unknown. Desert USA.
www.desertusa/mojave.com. (8/5/06)
• Unknown. Desert USA.
www.desertusa/sonoran.com. (8/5/06)
• Unknown. Madera Canyon Wildlife.
www.maderacanyonwildlifechecklist.com.
(8/7/06)