Desert Ecosystem
Though a desert may seem like a barren land devoid of lifeforms, life does exist in this harsh environment. Numerous plants and animal species have adapted to these seemingly unsuitable conditions. In the desert ecosystem, climate is a deciding factor for the existence of lifeforms. In deserts, temperatures can reach up to 115° F during the day, and come down to 32° F at night. Such extreme temperature makes it difficult for lifeforms to survive in the deserts, unless they adapt to this harsh climate. Surprisingly though, many plants and animals have adapted themselves over the years, and have become an important part of the desert ecosystem today.
Definition: Desert Ecosystem
In geographical studies, deserts are defined as regions wherein the average annual precipitation seldom exceeds more than 10 inches per year, and the amount of water lost to evapotranspiration is much more than the amount of water gained by precipitation. Like hot deserts, such as the Sahara and Mojave, there are cold deserts as well, the best example being Antarctica. One of the prominent difference between the two is the form of precipitation, which is snowfall in cold deserts and rainfall in hot deserts. Irrespective of whether it is a hot or a cold desert, the characteristic traits of both almost remain the same. It may comes as a surprise, but the areas which we refer to as hot deserts have a chilling temperature at night.
Desert Ecosystem: Animals
Not many of us are aware of the fact that deserts are home to a number of species of kingdom Animalia. Biodiversity of the deserts is as unique as other biomes of the world. You might not see these animals as you see zebras and wildebeests in Africa, but they do exist and each of these species play a crucial role in the desert ecosystem food chain. Like in most of the other ecosystems, plants are the primary producers, while rodents, insects and reptiles which feed on these plants are the primary consumers. Then come the secondary consumers, who mainly comprise larger reptiles and insects which feed on primary consumers. At the top of the desert food chain are the apex predators in the form of birds and mammals. Most prominent members of the desert animals list include the Gila monster, chuckawallas, desert tortoise, rattlesnakes, hawks, ostriches, bobcat, kangaroo rats, mountain lions, etc. Most of these desert animals are nocturnal, i.e. active during the night, and spend the entire day burrowing. This adaptation helps them to fight the soaring temperatures that persist during the day. Water being scarce in deserts, these animals have also modified themselves to make the most of the available water. Some animals absorb water from plants, while others store it in their fatty tissues. Read more on adaptations in desert animals.
Desert Ecosystem: Plants
When we talk about desert vegetation, most of us only think about cactus. However, we fail to understand that within cactus, there are different types which grow in different deserts of the world. These plants have have modified themselves to sustain in the desert environment. Some plants store water in the specialized tissues, while others have small leaves with hair like structures which reduce the evaporation of moisture. In North American deserts, barrel cactus is the most abundantly found cacti species, while other species include crimson hedgehog cactus, pancake prickly pear cactus, saguaro cactus, etc. Other cactus plants such as brittle bush, saltbush, creosote bush, desert ironwood, gravillias, Joshua tree, Mojave aster, Soaptree yucca, hanging chain cholla, etc., are also quite common in deserts. Read more on desert plant life.
Our ecosystem
Though a desert may seem like a barren land devoid of lifeforms, life does exist in this harsh environment. Numerous plants and animal species have adapted to these seemingly unsuitable conditions. In the desert ecosystem, climate is a deciding factor for the existence of lifeforms. In deserts, temperatures can reach up to 115° F during the day, and come down to 32° F at night. Such extreme temperature makes it difficult for lifeforms to survive in the deserts, unless they adapt to this harsh climate. Surprisingly though, many plants and animals have adapted themselves over the years, and have become an important part of the desert ecosystem today.Definition: Desert Ecosystem
In geographical studies, deserts are defined as regions wherein the average annual precipitation seldom exceeds more than 10 inches per year, and the amount of water lost to evapotranspiration is much more than the amount of water gained by precipitation. Like hot deserts, such as the Sahara and Mojave, there are cold deserts as well, the best example being Antarctica. One of the prominent difference between the two is the form of precipitation, which is snowfall in cold deserts and rainfall in hot deserts. Irrespective of whether it is a hot or a cold desert, the characteristic traits of both almost remain the same. It may comes as a surprise, but the areas which we refer to as hot deserts have a chilling temperature at night.
Desert Ecosystem: Animals
Not many of us are aware of the fact that deserts are home to a number of species of kingdom Animalia. Biodiversity of the deserts is as unique as other biomes of the world. You might not see these animals as you see zebras and wildebeests in Africa, but they do exist and each of these species play a crucial role in the desert ecosystem food chain. Like in most of the other ecosystems, plants are the primary producers, while rodents, insects and reptiles which feed on these plants are the primary consumers. Then come the secondary consumers, who mainly comprise larger reptiles and insects which feed on primary consumers. At the top of the desert food chain are the apex predators in the form of birds and mammals. Most prominent members of the desert animals list include the Gila monster, chuckawallas, desert tortoise, rattlesnakes, hawks, ostriches, bobcat, kangaroo rats, mountain lions, etc. Most of these desert animals are nocturnal, i.e. active during the night, and spend the entire day burrowing. This adaptation helps them to fight the soaring temperatures that persist during the day. Water being scarce in deserts, these animals have also modified themselves to make the most of the available water. Some animals absorb water from plants, while others store it in their fatty tissues. Read more on adaptations in desert animals.Desert Ecosystem: Plants
When we talk about desert vegetation, most of us only think about cactus. However, we fail to understand that within cactus, there are different types which grow in different deserts of the world. These plants have have modified themselves to sustain in the desert environment. Some plants store water in the specialized tissues, while others have small leaves with hair like structures which reduce the evaporation of moisture. In North American deserts, barrel cactus is the most abundantly found cacti species, while other species include crimson hedgehog cactus, pancake prickly pear cactus, saguaro cactus, etc. Other cactus plants such as brittle bush, saltbush, creosote bush, desert ironwood, gravillias, Joshua tree, Mojave aster, Soaptree yucca, hanging chain cholla, etc., are also quite common in deserts. Read more on desert plant life.Our ecosystem
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