Transcript It’s Always Sunny in Deserts

It’s Always Sunny in Deserts
Desert Biome by: Amanda Tsang, Daniel Song, and Bethany Ling
Where are they?
*Gobi, Turkestan, and Great Indian
Desert are known as “Cold Deserts”
General Features
Coarse-textured soil
Rocky flat ground
Loose gravel
No subsurface water (water flow under the surface)
due to lack of rainfall & infiltration
● Diverse landscapes with small shrubs, plants and trees
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Climates
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Sunny, hot
Hot days, cold nights
Can go upto 45 C in some deserts
Precipitation- Less than 25mm (10 inch) per year
Rains the most in November
When Should I visit?
● Best times to visit & view wildlife= Spring and Fall
● Summer is way too hot and temps. can be very cold in the winter
● Look out for the dust storms and quick & violent thunderstorms that are
not uncommon.
● When traveling by foot, time your walks when the sun is not as intense
(early morning and late afternoon)
● Stay on the main paved roads
o Easy to get lost so be informed on your travels
● Carry at least 1 gallon per day/person of drinking water AT ALL TIMES
● Avoid sun exposure at all costs
o Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, loose long-sleeve shirts and pants, etc.
● Stay out of mines and away from anything rodent related (Hantavirus)
Unique Features...
● Temperatures in some deserts can be so hot that when it rains, the water
evaporates before reaching the ground.
● Dust storms can travel hundreds of miles at 1 mile high.
● This biome can be found on every continent except Europe.
● Have less than 10 inches of annual precipitation
● There is less chemical weather, so desert soils coarse-textured and
shallow with no subsurface water.
Plant Characteristics &
Adaptations
● Such a dry climate
plants store water in their stems and grow
spaced which allows their roots to extend and find water
● Some plants have special means of storing water/conserving the small
amounts of water that they are exposed to, such as having few or no
leaves.
o Ex: Cacti use their spines to protect from predators and have a waxy
covering that keeps in moisture
● Varying temperatures during each season
o some plants remain dormant during dry periods and wait until water
is available to come to life
o Conform with seasons of cooler temperature and the most moisture
Animal Adaptations
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Animals such as Bats, Raccoons,
foxes, snakes etc. Are nocturnal
(sleep during the day - hunt in the
night).
Because it is cooler during the
night, it makes it easier for animals
to hunt.
Many animals store their body fat
in one area, because body fat
retains heat.
○ Camels stores all its body fat
in their hump.
Tourism activities
Star Wars Tatooine planet in Tunisia
Sandboarding, Dune buggies, Camel riding
Dakar Rally in Sahara
2 Out of 7 Most mysterious places (Pyramids,
Nazsca Lines)
● Cities such as Dubai, Cairo, Las Vegas, etc
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Environmental Issues
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Recreational activities such as off-roading (dune bashing or rock racing) vehicles
can disrupt the soil and landscape causing erosion.
o This also harms plants and animal habitats
The Oil Industry/Gold Mining in the Sahara
o As people dig for fossil fuels it could destroy the desert biome, and harm
plant and animal life.
o Potassium Cyanide (used for gold mining) can poison wildlife
Sources
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_plant_page.htm
http://www.environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/desert-threats/
https://sites.google.com/site/desertbiomeofawesomness/environmental-problems
http://www.desertusa.com/du_plantsurv.html
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/trv-tipsdesert.html
http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/desert_biome_facts/167/