Transcript Desert Biome

Abby Wold, Penelope Benkard, Scott Robinson, & Michael
Greenberger
DESERT BIOME
BASIC DESCRIPTION
Covers about 1/5 of the Earth’s surface
 Classified a desert when there is less than 50
cm of rainfall in a year
 Most deserts occur in low latitudes
 Temperature throughout the year is 30◦ Celsius
(100◦ Fahrenheit)
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ABIOTIC FACTORS
Sand
 Sunlight
 Water
 Temperature
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BIOTIC FACTORS
Scorpions
 Coyotes
 Snakes
 Cacti

FOOD WEB
FOOD CHAIN
hawk
lizard
grasshopper
cacti
CYCLING OF NUTRIENTS
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Water
 Rainfall in a desert is very rare and scarce. When it does rain, the plants suck up all of the
water they can store. Water is kept underground as a reliable water source. Plants use fog
as a source of water and also dew in the mornings is captured by the plant’s leaves or
hairs. A wax coating on the plant’s leaves protect the water from being evaporated
Carbon
 As desert plants grow, they absorb carbon dioxide. The carbons (sugars) move into the
roots and soil of plants. Some of the carbon dioxide goes back into the soil and combines
with calcium to make calcium carbonate. The deserts hold a large amount of carbon and
reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Nitrogen
 Desert plants uptake the nitrates which are consumed by insects and reptiles. The insects
and reptiles are then eaten by secondary consumers like small carnivores or snakes. The
nitrogen compounds in these animals are passed up through the food chain. The waste
products and the dead bodies return the nitrogen back to the soil. In the soil, bacteria and
fungi mineralize the nitrogen for plant growth.
CARNIVORES
Bobcat
 Coyote
 Rattlesnake
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HERBIVORES
Horned Lizard
 Prairie Dog
 Bighorn Sheep
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PLANTS
Saguaro Cacti
 Prickly pear cacti
 Barrel cacti
 Columnar cacti
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ADAPTATIONS THROUGH EVOLUTION
Sleep during the day-colder at night
 Animals store more water and for longer
periods
 Special skin and semi permeable coatings to
prevent water loss

WHAT IF…
If the Saguaro Cactus was to suddenly be
removed from the Desert biome… Many of the
animals that live in the desert biome especially
those of the south-west United States (Where
the Saguaro Cactus is common) would die
 The Saguaro provides water and food for the
animals and even nutrients for some plants.
Also, many species of animals find home in it.
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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
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Strengths- Photosynthesis occurs more often
and has a better efficiency.

Weaknesses- Lack of water and food
SUSTAINABILITY
Deserts require little water
 Food chains are simple
 Deserts usually only contain indigenous
organisms, so interruption of the food chains is
rare.
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