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TRANSCRIPT
DESERTS• Region of land that is very dry because of low rainfall amounts.
• Often has little coverage by plants
• Generally receive less than 250 millimetres (10 in) of rain each year.
DESERT VEGETATION
XEROPHYTES
• Usually have special ways of storing and conserving water.
• They often have few or no leaves, which reduces water loss
PHREATOPHYTES
• Are plants that have adapted to living in the desert by growing very long roots.
PERENNIALS
• Survive by remaining dormant during the dry periods and come to life when water is available
ANNUAL
• Germinate after heavy rain and complete their reproductive cycle quickly.
•They bloom for a few weeks in spring.
•Their seeds remain dormant in the soil until the next year’s rain
DESERT ANIMALS
• In times of drought, many desert animals remain inactive for long period
• More than half of desert animals live at least part of the time in underground.
• The camel is the most useful domestic desert animal
CHARACTERISTICS
HOT AND DRY DESERT
• The seasons are generally warm throughout the year and very hot in the summer.
• The winters usually bring little rainfall.
SEMIARID DESERT
• Summer temperatures usually average between 21-27° C.
• Evening temperatures are cool, at around 10° C.
•The average rainfall ranges from 2-4 cm annually.
COASTAL DESERT
• The average summer temperature ranges from 13-24° C; winter temperatures are 5° C or below
•The average rainfall measures 8-13 cm in many areas.
COLD DESERT
• They have short, moist, and moderately warm summers with fairly long, cold winters.
• The mean winter temperature is between -2 to 4° C
• The mean summer temperature is between 21-26° C.
IMPORTANCE
• Most desert have a considerable amount of specialized vegetation, as well as specialized vertebrate and invertebrate animals
• Two- thirds of the world’s crude oil is found by drilling in desert
• Deserts are increasingly seen as sources for solar energy, partly due to lower cloud cover
SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT THE DESERT
• Support the environment and the wildlife !
• Study wildlife and educate others
• Be aware of changes in the community that could damage desert habitat and animals