Atacama DesertMade by: Sarah. J & Jason

6B

What is the Atacama Desert?

• The Atacama desert is a highland desert in Chile “covering 1,000 km strip of land on the Pacific coast of Chile.”(1)

• It is known as the driest desert on earth.

http://www.journeyetc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/atacama_desertmap.jpg

Types of Plants

• BunchGrass(2) • Cardon Cactus(2) • Tamaruga(2)

BunchGrass

http://www.semp.us/images/Biot670PhotoK.jpg

Cardon Cactus

•http://www.atacamaphoto.com/atacama-flora/atacama-flora12.jpg

Tamaruga Trees

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/381052673_78720ee15b.jpg?v=0

Plant Adaptations

• Due to the dry climate, plants have developed ways of capturing water. Some plants have developed long taproots which its size varies from 20-30 foot. These taproots go deep into the ground and tap into groundwater sources. While other plants have developed extensive horizontal root systems which lie just below the surface and extend far beyond the plant canopy. When it rains the numerous tiny roots capture the water. (3)

Plant Adaptations

• Another physical adaptation is the ability of desert plants to store water in their roots, stems, leaves or fruit. Plants that store water this way are referred to as succulents (having fleshy and juicy tissues such as the cactus) and they include cacti. A behavioral adaptation used by some plants is to only open leaf pores during the night when air temperature is cool and evaporation rate is low. (3)

Types of Animals

• Lizards(2) • Llamas(2) • Peruvian Fox(2) • Nesting area for many seabirds. (2)

Lizards

http://www.atacamaphoto.com/atacama-fauna/desert-animals27.jpg

Llamas

http://www.wikiwak.com/image/Lamas+in+the+sunset+San+Pedro+de+Atacama+Chile+Luca+Galuzzi+2006.jpg

Peruvian Fox

http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/wildlife/graphics/peruvfox.jpg

Seabirds

http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/16546/wm/pd701937.jpg

Animal Adaptations

• Animals look for shelter by burrowing (origin burrow- a hole or tunnel in the ground made by a rabbit, fox, or similar animal for habitation or shelter) into the ground.(4)

• Some animals get all the water they need from the insects, bulbs and seeds they eat. After that they will not drink water even if it is available. (4)

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Animal Adaptations

• Another behavioral adaptation is to remain inactive during the hot daylight hours. They hunt at night when the temperature is cooler and when there is a less risk of losing precious body water. Animals that use this adaptation are referred to as nocturnal. (4)

Animal Adaptations

• Some animals have developed salt glands which is a physical adaptation that allows the emission of salt without losing water. The lack of sweat glands and the concentration of urine are other physical adaptations that are made desert animals. (4)

• Fat strengthens heat and a unique physical adaptation of some desert animals is storing fat in humps or tails instead of storing it through the whole body. (4)

Human Activities that Affect Deserts

• People uproot cactuses and take them to their houses for decorations. However cactuses grow very slowly, so the deserts are becoming exposed.(5)

Human Activities that affect the Deserts

• Animals are being hunt down for different reasons.

• People uproot special desert plants like the cacti and special types of lizards that live in deserts only, and then they sell it at high prices or use it for decoration.(6)

Abiotic Factors

• The Atacama is 970km long. It is 610m above sea level. There are some places where rain has never been recorded for about 400 years however, scientists believe that some river beds appear to have been dry for tens of thousands of years. It still rains though, but with an average of 0.1cm of rain per year.(7)

Abiotic Factors

• Although the Atacama is known for being the driest desert on earth, it is unlike other deserts as it is a cold place with an average of daily temperatures ranging between 0c and 25c. Actually, in high places, snow falls instead of rain! There are some small patches of snow that didn’t melt cause it doesn’t get warm enough to melt the snow!! (7)

Bibliography

1. Slide 2 >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama_desert

2. Slide 5+11 >> http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm

3. Slide 9+10 >> http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/desertP.html

Bibliography

4. Slides 16+17+18 >> http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/desertA.html

5. Slide 19 >> http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080922213354AAnzt9X

6. Slide 20 >> http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/major_biomes/

Bibliography

7. Slide 21+22 >> http://www.extremescience.com/zoom/index.php/driest-desert

8. First slide background >> http://www.sessionmagazine.com/img/nature/world-in-numbers/Atacama-Desert-Chile.jpg