The Desert Biome

By:Shae Stobert

&Caleb Henson

Deserts are located in Africa, The Middle East, and Southeast

United States. Some Plants- Cactus, Wildflowers, Short Grasses, Sagebrush,

and Creosote Bushes Some Animals- Mice, Snakes, Kangaroos, Reptiles, Birds, Ants,

Scorpions, and the Camel These plants and animals vary from desert to desert

depending on how they adapt. The Armadillo Lizard is an endangered species that lives in the

desert. Rattlesnakes around the world are poisonous, all varieties,

including the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. Which can be found in the United States.

Biology

Biology Pictures

Armadillo Lizard Creosote Bush

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Hot and Dry desert temperatures range from 20-25 degrees Celsius. Cold desert temperatures in the winter range from 2-4 degrees Celsius. Hot and Dry deserts have precipitation that averages less than 15

centimeters a year. Cold deserts get snow, and more rain in the spring. This allows the

precipitation to average at between 15-26 centimeters per year. Deserts have the same seasons as we do. But deserts’ temperatures

are much more extreme. Most deserts are located at extreme low and extreme high lines of

latitude. The desert is practically a drought all year round. A desert does not have much of a growing season, as most plants that

are in the desert must have the ability to hold nutrients and water for a very long time.

Climate

Some pollution that is caused in the desert is from

things like; mining waste, radioactive dumpsites, urban sewage, and toxic waste dumps.

Two natural disasters that harm the desert biome are; sand storms and droughts.

As mentioned earlier, there isn’t much water in the desert. But when there is, it is from rainfall.

Humans also endanger the desert. By doing things like grazing animals, gas production, and driving off road vehicles.

Environment

Environment Pictures

Natural Disaster: Sandstorm

Human-Caused Disaster: Desert Off-Roading

The most popular location of fault lines in a

desert are in the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

Some minerals that can be found in deserts are; copper, iron, lead-zinc ore, chromite, gold, silver, and uranium. Along with numerous Non-Metallic Minerals.

Mountains in the desert are fairly rare, they are usually high hills of sand.

Geology

Geology Pictures

Libyan Desert Glass

Desert sand hill

Big Map

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_animal_page.h

tm http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/biomedes2.htm http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Countries_located_in_a_desert_bio

me http://www.discoverseaz.com/Wildlife/snakes.html http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_natural_disasters_occur_in_the_deser

t http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_there_any_pollution_in_the_desert http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php http://enviroment.nationalgeographic.com/enviroment/habitats/desert-threats/ http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/deserts/minerals.htm http://digital-desert.com/earthquake-faults.htm

Website Sources