Transcript Sonoran Desert. - Wakefield Community School

The Sonoran Desert in the
It is a commonU.S.
stereotype
Southwestern
is one
Right
Now,
In
a
place
1400
that
deserts
never
get
any
of the wettest deserts in
jake Andmore
Sammie
FindBy:away…
out
about
this
rain.
This
is
not
always
miles
the world, and is home to
amazing
biome by
the
case…
thousands of plant &
watching this presentation
animal species – more
now…
than any other desert on
earth.
Sonoran
Desert
By Jake & Sammie
The Sonoran Desert
By Jake & Sammie
The Sonoran is generally located
in Northwestern Mexico, Baja
California, Southwestern
Arizona, and Southeastern
California
The Sonoran covers roughly
120,000 square miles
On a world map,
The Sonoran Desert is
located there. Let’s fly down
and take a closer look…
120
100
80
60
Climate of the Sonoran Desert
• The Climate of the Sonoran Desert is classified as “Dry Tropical.” The
desert gets almost no rain but stays warm all year ‘round thanks to its
low latitude.
Average Precipitation (Inches)
Average Temp. (Degrees F)
40
• Summers in the Sonoran Desert are very hot– usually the daytime
temperature is over 100°F (38 °C)
Monthly precipitation is usually 1” or below
• During the winter months, the temperature hovers around 60°F (15°C)
at its coldest.
20
• The Sonoran Desert receives less than 10 inches (25cm) of rain per year.
0
DESERT BIGHORN
COYOTE
JAVELINA
BOBCAT
CACTI
Don’t I look
cuddly?
HUMMINGBIRD
OCOTILLO
GILA MONSTER
SONORAN TOAD
Density-Dependent Factors
Major Predator-Prey relationships include the Bobcat and small mammals, owls and
rodents, and coyotes and small mammals. Animals that eat cacti, such as the Javelina,
battle against a cactus’ spines for a meal. Usually these animals have a special method
for eating the cactus.
Nesting sites for birds are limited to rocks and cacti. In both cases, birds have to peck a
hole to live in . Battles ensue between birds for the same nesting site. Birds also face
danger from hawks and the vicious Goliath Tarantula.
Density-Independent Factors
A famous event that occurs in deserts is a flash flood. Flash floods occur during a sudden
heavy rainfall or when a river floods. Water sweeps through the lanscape, tearing up
trees and shrubs and drowning animals.
The water is unable to soak into the ground because the desert soil is so dry. Flash floods
occur in drier parts of the Sonoran.
The Sonoran Community
The Sonoran Desert supports thousands of plants & animals. A typical community is centered in a
valley where rainfall creates large, temporary puddles. Toads, birds, and lizards take advantage of
this to get a drink and bathe. Deer feed on grass that was freshened up by the rainfall. Bobcats,
coyotes, and foxes prey on small mammals that dig burrows here. Javelinas will ‘camp out’ by the
rain puddle until it is gone.
Saguaro cacti grow so thick in some parts of the desert that the location is referred to as a “Saguaro
Forest.” Many birds and small mammals make their homes here in the shade. Many such places
have reached the climax community stage.
Problems Caused By The Prescence of Humans
•
The groundwater in Arizona is composed of an aquifer that was formed millions of years
ago. This “fossil water” is the main source of freshwater in Arizona, and as a result of its
use, the water table in the Senoran Desert has dropped considerably. This water obviously
cannot be replaced by rainfall, so when it’s gone, it’s gone.
•
Recklessly driven off-road vehicles trample and destroy endangered plants.
•
Some parts of the desert have been cleared and used as a range for target shooting.
Irresponsible shooting and hunting have endangered the Sonoran Pronghorn, Desert
bighorn sheep, mountain lion, and bobcat.
•
Many parts of the Sonoran Desert are not protected by law, and the desert is vulnerable to
the urban expansion of cities like Phoenix.
Sonoran Desert
•
The Creosote Bush is named that way because it smells a lot like the creosote tar
that is used on telephone poles to preserve the wood.
•
The branches of the Teddy Bear Cholla are completely covered with spines. The
branches break off easily when brushed against– giving you the impression that
the plant “jumped” at you.
•
The Banded Gila Monster can eat huge amounts of food at one time (anything
from eggs to small reptiles and rodents). The Gila stores extra fat in its tail, and
can live for 3 weeks on fat alone.
•
The Collared Peccary gets the name Javelina because of its razor-sharp tusks.
Javelina is the Spanish word for javelin or spear.
Sonoran Desert
•
The Sonoran Desert is home to the Goliath Tarantula, whose body can grow up to
5 inches in length. The Tarantula hunts and kills birds that live in and around
Saguaro cacti.
•
The Ocotillo, also called the Vine Cactus, sheds its leaves during extreme dry
periods to save water. The Ocotillo can perform photosynthesis without its
leaves.
•
The Sonoran toad lives in the shade under rocks, and can be seen swimming in
puddles after a rain, or along river banks. The Sonoran toad’s skin is poisonous.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Web site
Reference:
Eloratime
P.Web
(2003)
Sonoran
A long
ago,
at a Desert.
Reference:
Simone
M.
(200)
Sonoran
Desert
Web
site
site
Reference:
Royo,
A.R.
(2008)
Sonoran
Desert.
http://moviethemes.net/starwars.html
(Star Wars™ Music)
Retrieved
February
7,
2008,
from
Plants.
Retrieved
February
8,
2008,
from of
computer
far
away….
Reference:
Reference:
Mike
Hedding,
D. (2001)
Judy(2007)
Sonoran
Climate
Desert
Retrieved
February
8,far,
2008,
from
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/sonoran_des
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/sonoran_des
Wikipedia,
Encarta,
DK, and
others
for7,pictures
Animals.
Phoenix,
Retrieved
AZ Retrieved
February
February
2008,
10, 2008,
fromfrom
http://www.desertusa.com/du_sonoran.html
Works cited
ert.htm
ert_plant_page.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/sonoran_des
http://phoenix.about.com/od/weather/a/averag
Microsoft Map Point for Map
ert_animals_page.htm
etemps.htm
(Royo 2008)
(Elora P. M.
2003)
(Simone
2000)
(Hedding
2007)
(Mike
D. 2001)
Web
Web site
site(Star Wars™ Fonts)
http://www.typenow.net/themed.htm
Sonoran
Desert