Atacama Desert
Made by: Sarah. J & Jason
6B
What is the Atacama Desert?
• The Atacama desert is a highland desert in
Chile “covering 1,000 km strip of land on the
Pacific coast of Chile.”(1)
• It is known as the driest desert on earth.
http://www.journeyetc.com/wpcontent/uploads/2009/01/atacama
_desertmap.jpg
Types of Plants
• BunchGrass(2)
• Cardon Cactus(2)
• Tamaruga(2)
BunchGrass
http://www.semp.us/imag
es/Biot670PhotoK.jpg
Cardon
Cactus
•http://www.atacamaphoto.com/
atacama-flora/atacama-flora12.jpg
Tamaruga
Trees
http://farm1.stat
ic.flickr.com/181
/381052673_787
20ee15b.jpg?v=0
Plant Adaptations
• Due to the dry climate, plants have developed
ways of capturing water. Some plants have
developed long taproots which its size varies
from 20-30 foot. These taproots go deep into
the ground and tap into groundwater sources.
While other plants have developed extensive
horizontal root systems which lie just below the
surface and extend far beyond the plant canopy.
When it rains the numerous tiny roots capture
the water. (3)
Plant Adaptations
• Another physical adaptation is the ability of
desert plants to store water in their roots,
stems, leaves or fruit. Plants that store water
this way are referred to as succulents (having
fleshy and juicy tissues such as the cactus) and
they include cacti. A behavioral adaptation
used by some plants is to only open leaf pores
during the night when air temperature is cool
and evaporation rate is low. (3)
Types of Animals
•
•
•
•
Lizards(2)
Llamas(2)
Peruvian Fox(2)
Nesting area for many seabirds. (2)
Lizards
http://www.atacamaphoto.c
om/atacama-fauna/desertanimals27.jpg
Llamas
http://www.wikiwak.com/image/La
mas+in+the+sunset+San+Pedro+de+A
tacama+Chile+Luca+Galuzzi+2006.jpg
Peruvian
Fox
http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/
wildlife/graphics/peruvfox.jpg
Seabirds
http://img1.photographersdi
rect.com/img/16546/wm/pd
701937.jpg
Animal Adaptations
• Animals look for shelter by burrowing (origin
burrow- a hole or tunnel in the ground made by a
rabbit, fox, or similar animal for habitation or
shelter) into the ground.(4)
• Some animals get all the water they need from
the insects, bulbs and seeds they eat. After that
they will not drink water even if it is available. (4)
•
Animal Adaptations
• Another behavioral adaptation is to remain
inactive during the hot daylight hours. They
hunt at night when the temperature is cooler
and when there is a less risk of losing precious
body water. Animals that use this adaptation
are referred to as nocturnal. (4)
Animal Adaptations
• Some animals have developed salt glands which
is a physical adaptation that allows the emission
of salt without losing water. The lack of sweat
glands and the concentration of urine are other
physical adaptations that are made desert
animals. (4)
• Fat strengthens heat and a unique physical
adaptation of some desert animals is storing fat
in humps or tails instead of storing it through the
whole body. (4)
Human Activities that Affect Deserts
• People uproot cactuses and take them to their
houses for decorations. However cactuses
grow very slowly, so the deserts are becoming
exposed.(5)
Human Activities that affect the
Deserts
• Animals are being hunt down for different
reasons.
• People uproot special desert plants like the
cacti and special types of lizards that live in
deserts only, and then they sell it at high
prices or use it for decoration.(6)
Abiotic Factors
• The Atacama is 970km long. It is 610m above
sea level. There are some places where rain
has never been recorded for about 400 years
however, scientists believe that some river
beds appear to have been dry for tens of
thousands of years. It still rains though, but
with an average of 0.1cm of rain per year.(7)
Abiotic Factors
• Although the Atacama is known for being the
driest desert on earth, it is unlike other
deserts as it is a cold place with an average of
daily temperatures ranging between 0c and
25c. Actually, in high places, snow falls instead
of rain! There are some small patches of snow
that didn’t melt cause it doesn’t get warm
enough to melt the snow!! (7)
Bibliography
1. Slide 2 >>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama_desert
2. Slide 5+11 >>
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.ht
m
3. Slide 9+10 >>
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/ea
rthsysflr/desertP.html
Bibliography
4. Slides 16+17+18 >>
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earths
ysflr/desertA.html
5. Slide 19 >>
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=
20080922213354AAnzt9X
6. Slide 20 >>
http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/teache
r_resources/webfieldtrips/major_biomes/
Bibliography
7. Slide 21+22 >>
http://www.extremescience.com/zoom/index.
php/driest-desert
8. First slide background >>
http://www.sessionmagazine.com/img/nature
/world-in-numbers/Atacama-Desert-Chile.jpg