WARM DESERTS
INTRODUCTION TO WARM DESERTS...
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Warm Deserts have very low rainfall and extreme high temperatures during the day and
extreme low temperatures during the night which makes it a very harsh environment.
They are normally close to the equator which makes them Warm Deserts.
Plant life is very scarce but there are many small animals. To live in the desert with
extreme temperatures and low rainfall, plants and animals are forced to change their
habits and make many adaptations to survive in the harsh environment.
Most of the plants have adapted to the lack of water by using dew for moisture and taking
in water through their leaves and stems. They also have an underground rooting system and
have the ability to store water for long periods of time. They have roots which grow up to
80 feet long. They also have a thick waxy layer outside the stem and leave which help them
to reduce the loss of water from intense sunlight.
Most of the small animals in the deserts have to burrow underground especially during the
day to reduce water loss because of high temperatures.
ECOSYSTEMS PRESENT IN WARM DESERTS…
ABIOTIC FEATURES
TEMPERATURE: The maximum temperature ranges from 40-45°C and during winter nights,
the temperature can drop down to well below the freezing point.
RAINFALL: They have concentrated rainfall in short periods between long rainless periods.
The average is under 25 cm per year.
CLIMATE: The warm deserts are situated in the subtropical climate zone where there is
unbroken sunshine for the whole year due to the stable descending air and high pressure.
BIOTIC FEATURES
PLANTS:-
Barrel Cactus
Creosote Bush
Joshua Tree
Ocotillo
Saguaro Cactus
Brittle Bush
Chainfruit Cholla
Crimson Hedgehog
Cactus
Desert Ironwood
Jumping Cholla
Mojave Aster
Palo Verde
Pancake Prickly Pear
Cactus
Soaptree Yucca
Triangle-leaf
Bursage
ANIMALS:-
Armadillo Lizard
Banded Gila Monster
Bobcat
Cactus Wren
Coyote
Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert Kangaroo Rat
Desert Tortoise
Javelina
Cactus Ferruginoug
Pygmy Owl
Sonoran Desert Toad
Sonoran Pronghorn
Antelope
Thorny Devil
Spiny-Tailed Lizard
Rattlesnake
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Desert plants are the primary producers. Plant eating animals eat Cacti, Creosote Bushes,
Thorn Acacias, Annual Flowers, Rabbit Brush, Ocotillo, Sage Brush etc…
The plant eating animals are the primary consumers. They are Insects, Lizards, Rodent,
Kangaroo Rats etc…
The secondary consumers eat the plant eaters. They are Tarantulas, Scorpions, Lizards,
Snakes etc…
The tertiary consumers eat the animals that eat the plant eaters. They are Hawks, Kit
Foxes etc…
This is how all the animals survive by following the food web.
WHERE ARE WARM DESERTS SITUATED???
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There are 9 warm deserts in the world. The names are as follows:Arabian Desert located in Arabian Peninsula.
Australian (Great Sandy, Victoria, Simpson, Gibson, and Sturt) Desert located in Australia.
Chihuahuan Desert located in North Central Mexico and Southwestern United States
Kalahari Desert located in Southwestern Africa.
Mojave Desert located in Southwestern United States.
Monte Desert located in Argentina.
Sahara Desert located in Northern Africa.
Sonoran Desert located in Southwestern United States and parts of Mexico.
Thar Desert located in India and Pakistan.
WHY ARE WARM DESERTS SO SPECIAL???
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Warm Deserts are home for many living things like plants and animals. The way plants and
animals behave in the desert, makes the desert special.
The plants and animals have special adaptations to live in the intense heat and lack of
water.
The special adaptations desert animals have are as follows:Some animals don’t drink water but get their water from seeds and plants.
Most animals are nocturnal which means that they sleep during the hot day and come out
only during the night to hunt food.
Some animals rarely spend their time on the ground but are mostly underground.
The special adaptations desert plants have are as follows:
They have the ability to collect and store water for a long time.
They also have the features to reduce water loss.
The way warm deserts are formed is very special. When the cold air moves down from the
side of the mountain, it gets warmer and warm air can’t hold much moisture and so it
doesn’t rain as much and this is how warm deserts are formed and it also makes deserts to
have an unique shape.
REFERENCES…
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_plant_page.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_animal_page.htm
http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Climate/Older/Desert_Climate.html
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42352000/jpg/_42352085_africa2.jpg
http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/biomes/desert/hotdesert/vista1.gif