Deserts

JERICA RODE AND TARA BANFIELD

What is a desert?

Less than 50 cm/year Occupies 20% of the land surface of the Earth Four types

Hot and dry

Semiarid

Coastal

Cold

Where are they located?

Deserts

General Characteristics:Soil

Lithosols Stone or mineral soil

Evaporated water leaves deposits of salt Shrubbery and animals add

nutrients

General Characteristics:Plants

Plant hair helps to reduce evaporation

Produce small leaves in response to rainfall

Some remain as seeds and only germinate during wet periods Ephemerals

Hot and Dry Desert

Annual temperature: 20-25°C

Annual rainfall: 1.5 – 28 cm/year

Plants Small, thick, and covered in cuticles

Open their stomata at night

Animals include species that are able to burrow

Semiarid Desert

Summer Temperature: 21-27°C

Annual rainfall: 2 - 4 cm/year

Plants

Spiny for protection

Some are glossy to reflect radiation

Animals

Avoid direct sunlight

Coastal Desert

Average temperature: 13-24°C Average rainfall: 8-13 cm/year Plants

Some plants form ridges/grooves to hold water Thick fleshy leaves/stems to store water

Animals Some are able to speed up their life cycle in ideal conditions

Cold Desert

Long, cold winters and warmer summers Annual temperature: -2 - 4°C Annual precipitation: 15- 26cm Plants are scattered Animals burrow