By: Max Garfinkle
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Low latitude climate
that has an average
temperature of 64
degrees Fahrenheit.
Has very low
temperatures at night
and very high
temperature during the
day due to the lack of
precipitation.
Only about 1 inch of
rain falls in these areas a
year.
BARREL CACTUS(FEROCACTUS
WISLIZENI)
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Two to five tall, cylinder
with numerous parallel
ridges that run down the
sides.
These ridges are topped
with dangerously sharp 34 inch spines.
The barrel cactus is also a
flowering plant. It has
rings of yellow-green or
red blossoms at its top.
DESERT IRONWOOD(OLNEYA
TESOTA)
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From the pea family. The
leaves and flowers resemble
those of the sweetpea.
They're the tallest trees in the
Sonoran Desert, reaching
heights of 15 to 25 feet, but
they can grow as tall as 30
feet.
They are very slow growing,
with bluish gray-green
leaves, and a wide,
spreading crowns. and can
live as long as 1,500 years.
PALO VERDE(CERCIDIUM MICROPHYLLUM)
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Has low hanging, dense
and twiggy branches and
a strange irregular shape.
Six to four major stems
sprout out about 8 inches
(20 cm) from the ground.
The crown is 12 to 18 feet
(3.7 - 5.5 m) wide. Palo
verde can get to be 10-20
feet tall, but grow very
slowly and are considered
climax species in the
desert.
CACTUS WREN(CAMPYLORHYNCHUS
BRUNNEICAPILLUS)
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7-9 inches (18-22 cm) long,
the Cactus Wren is the
largest wren in the United
States.
Both sexes look alike. Both
are brown and have a white
stripe running over each eye.
Their throats are white, and
their beaks are dark, long
and slightly curved.
They are very active and
curious birds. They quickly
investigate anything new in
their territory.
COYOTE(CANIS
LATRANS)
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Has a tan coat mixed with hairs of
rusty brown and gray, and the
ends of the hair may be black. The
different colors help to hide the
coyote in the underbrush, rocks,
and grasses.
Has large, pointed ears and a
bushy tail. Known for their sharp
eyesight, keen hearing and a keen
sense of smell.
Adults can grow to be 4 feet long
(including the tail which can be 11
- 16 inches long). They can be 2
feet tall and weigh up to 30
pounds.
THORNY DEVIL
(MOLOCH HORRIDUS)
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Has conical spines all over,
including spines above each eye
and a hump behind its head
which is spiny. The tail is also
spiny. Its spines make it easy to
identify.
The color changes on the Thorny
Devil's body from yellow to
reddish brown to black,
depending on which type of soil it
is crossing.
Lays about 3 to 10 eggs
underground, between September
and January. The eggs hatch 3 to 4
months later. They reach maturity
after 3 years. The Thorny Devil
lives for about 20 years.
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This a basic food web
that has general
categories which deal
with the desert biome.
The flora and fauna
that I have chosen are
interchangeable in
this diagram.
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Most deserts have a lot of
mineral deposit due to ground
water evaporating out of the
soil. These mineral deposits can
be mined for our benefit.
A good amount of oil is found
in the desert biomes due to
evaporation of lakes and
streams which at one point in
time contained a lot of organic
material. This oil can be
processed and sold.
Lastly a lot of history is related
to the deserts which gives it a
large aesthetic value, especially
the deserts in Egypt.
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Lack of rain water and rapid temperature
change provides a difficult climate for plants to
grow in.
The soil is mostly composed of sand which
promotes plant life to store water in their stems
for long periods of time.
Weather can change very quickly so plant and
animal life must be tough enough to withstand
this to grow and live.
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Plant and animal life are quickly fading due to
human impact.
Mining these deserts for oil and minerals takes
away from the delicate balance the plant and
animal life must survive because of the harsh
climate.
Global warming is increasing the extremes of
temperature which can cause depletion of aquifers
and kill off certain key plants.
Desertification is occurring in areas surrounding
deserts due to a lack of rain and water in the
surrounding areas.
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Many cultures have made
the desert their home
throughout history.
They have made this
environment hospitable
by building their homes
out of clay and using
advanced systems of
irrigation to water plants.
In other cases people have
become nomadic and
travel their entire lives
through the desert
searching for food and
water.