The Desert Biome is the driest biome on Earth
This biome receives very little rain, less than 10 inches per year!
The Desert also has the highest daytime temperatures, however, it is very important to know that a desert doesn't have to be hot to be a desert! Many deserts such as ones in Utah and Nevada have colder temperatures.
So, it is save to say that a desert's full range of temperatures is from 3 - 130 degrees F.
Animals and Plants that live in the desert need special adaptations to adapt to heat and lack of water. Many of the wildlife include insects such as spiders, scorpions, many ants, and others insects. The desert also has small rodents such as rats and mice. Reptiles are thriving in the desert, snakes, lizards, and tortoises live in this biome. Even medium sized mammals such as one of the most interesting, the Camel. The vegetation here must adapt to lack of water to survive. Plants such as cacti, baobab trees, and small bushes.
Adaptations
This biome receives very little rain, less than 10 inches per year!
The Desert also has the highest daytime temperatures, however, it is very important to know that a desert doesn't have to be hot to be a desert! Many deserts such as ones in Utah and Nevada have colder temperatures.
So, it is save to say that a desert's full range of temperatures is from 3 - 130 degrees F.
Animals and Plants that live in the desert need special adaptations to adapt to heat and lack of water. Many of the wildlife include insects such as spiders, scorpions, many ants, and others insects. The desert also has small rodents such as rats and mice. Reptiles are thriving in the desert, snakes, lizards, and tortoises live in this biome. Even medium sized mammals such as one of the most interesting, the Camel. The vegetation here must adapt to lack of water to survive. Plants such as cacti, baobab trees, and small bushes.
Adaptations
- Some plants, called succulents, store water in their stems or leaves;
- Some plants have no leaves or small seasonal leaves that only grow after it rains. The lack of leaves helps reduce water loss during photosynthesis
- Spines to discourage animals from eating plants for water
- Most of the desert animals avoid being out in the sun during the hottest part of the day. Many desert mammals, reptiles and amphibians live in burrows to escape the intense desert heat.
- One of the most interesting desert adaptations are nocturnal animals. These species are inactive at night and come out for energy and cool air at nighttime, when its cold.
- These adaptations are needed because the constant exposure to high temperatures, desert animals need to maintain their body temperatures at a survivable level.