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