Saguaro DesertSaguaro Desert

A Desert EcosystemA Desert Ecosystem

By: Jillian, Asia, Isabel, and By: Jillian, Asia, Isabel, and LenaLena

MainMain, , Main, Main, Main, Main, Main Main Organisms!Organisms! Producers!!!!!Producers!!!!! CactusCactusPrimary Primary

Consumers!!!!!Consumers!!!!! Kangaroo RatsKangaroo Rats Tortoise Tortoise JackrabbitJackrabbit Sphinx MothSphinx MothConsumers!!!!!!Consumers!!!!!! Scorpions Scorpions

Secondary Secondary ConsumersConsumers

HawkHawk CoyoteCoyote RoadrunnerRoadrunner Bobcats Bobcats Peccary Peccary RattlesnakesRattlesnakes Mountain LionsMountain Lions EaglesEagles

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

Sunshine most of the year with hot tempsSunshine most of the year with hot temps Rainy seasons twice a yearRainy seasons twice a year

– July-September: short, violent thunderstormsJuly-September: short, violent thunderstorms– January-March: gentle rainsJanuary-March: gentle rains

Temperature Temperature

Average daytime temperatures Average daytime temperatures range from 60range from 60°-70° F°-70° F

Nighttime temps can fall below Nighttime temps can fall below freezingfreezing

Hottest Period: May-September with Hottest Period: May-September with temps over 100 °temps over 100 °

In the Rincon Mountains, temps are In the Rincon Mountains, temps are coolercooler

The Effects Of The Effects Of PeoplePeople

Expansion of citiesExpansion of cities

The park is split into two sections The park is split into two sections between both halves of the desert is between both halves of the desert is the city of Tucson. the city of Tucson.

Tucson is expanding with more Tucson is expanding with more people.people.

When the cityWhen the city expands it means that expands it means that there is less room for the plants and there is less room for the plants and animals to live and grow.animals to live and grow.

Drag racesDrag racesDrag races kill turtles.Drag races kill turtles.Turtles get killed because they Turtles get killed because they

are sloware slowRoadrunners eat turtles and since Roadrunners eat turtles and since

the turtles are getting killed so the turtles are getting killed so there is less food for the there is less food for the roadrunners and that means that roadrunners and that means that the population of roadrunners will the population of roadrunners will soon die out.soon die out.

BoundariesBoundariesThe land goes beyond the boundaries.The land goes beyond the boundaries.The animals don’t realize that there The animals don’t realize that there

are boundaries and go beyond them.are boundaries and go beyond them.When the animals go beyond the When the animals go beyond the

boundaries with out realizing it then boundaries with out realizing it then they get hit by the cars that are they get hit by the cars that are driving around outside the boundaries.driving around outside the boundaries.

ABIOTIC EffectsABIOTIC Effects

some effects are…some effects are…

FrostFrost

When the weather is cold and the When the weather is cold and the ground freezes, the animals can’t ground freezes, the animals can’t burrow.burrow.

Vehicles: Off Road and Other Drivers Vehicles: Off Road and Other Drivers

Careless drivers kill small animals and Careless drivers kill small animals and plants and that affects the food chain.plants and that affects the food chain.

Air Pollution Air Pollution

Power plants and smelters add to the air Power plants and smelters add to the air pollution that affects the air quality for pollution that affects the air quality for the plants and animals. the plants and animals.

Power plants convert mechanical energy Power plants convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.into electrical energy.

Smelters takes iron ore and turns it into Smelters takes iron ore and turns it into steel.steel.

FOOD WEB FOOD WEB

Coyote Roadrunner Hawk Snake Coyote Roadrunner Hawk Snake BatsBats

TortoiseTortoise JackrabbitJackrabbit Kangaroo Kangaroo Rat MothRat Moth

Cacti Mexican Poppy Popcorn Cacti Mexican Poppy Popcorn Flower Flower