DESERTSBy: Ethan Thimmesch and Eli Bailey

DESERTS ON EARTH

DESERTS IN AMERICAThe deserts in America are very hot and dry. There are many different herbivores, carnivores and producers in the desert.

AVERAGE RAINFALL The average rainfall in the desert

region is about five inches per year. There are some deserts that can go up

to about seven years without rainfall. When it rains it is a short torrential

rainfall.

LATITUDE OF DESERT REGIONS

Deserts are normally found in between 15 and -25 degrees Latitude.

PLANTSJumping Cholla

Pallo Verde

Chain Fruit Cholla

Brittle Brush

Saguaro Cactus

The Saguaro cactus has big branches to store water

Brittle brush can go a while without water

The Jumping Cholla uses its spikes to protect it from being eaten

The Pallo Verde uses a large root system to store water

The Chain Fruit Cholla uses its fruit to store water

HERBIVORES

Antelope ground squirrel

Desert Tortoise

Black Tailed Jackrabbit

Kangaroo RatDesert Bighorn Sheep

CARNIVORESMountain Lion

Bobcat

Red Tailed Hawk

The Mountain lion uses its hunting abilities to hunt and track all species of animals in the desert.

The red tailed hawk uses its eyesight and its sharp talons to hunt and catch small rodents.

The bobcat uses its great speed to chase and catch large rodents and rabbits.

CARNIVORES CONT.Mountain King Snake

Black collared Lizard

The Mountain king snake uses its strong body and its stealth to hunt and eat any animal.

The black collared lizard uses its speed to catch large insects

FOOD WEB

Brittlebush

Kangaroo Rat

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Black Tail Jackrabbit

Mountain King Snake

Red-Tailed Hawk

Bobcat

Cougar

FOOD PYRAMID

Chain Fruit Cholla Brittle Brush

Kangaroo Rat Black Tailed JackrabbitDesert Bighorn Sheep

Mountain King Snake

Bobcat

Black collared Lizard

Red Tailed Hawk

Mountain Lion

EXAMPLES OF LIFE IN DESERTOne example of predator/prey is a Mountain Lion hunting a deer

An example of parasitism is fleas of a kangaroo rat

An example of competition in the desert is cactuses competing for root room

An example of mutualism is Hawks making a nest in a cactus

BENEFITS OF THE DESERT In the desert there is constantly a

lot of sun so we put solar panels out there to harness the suns energy. We use that to power our every day items or objects.

THREATS TO THE DESERTOne of the biggest threats to the

desert today is people moving to the desert. The more people that move to the desert, the more animals we kick out. We can prevent kicking animals out by not moving out to the desert. Or at least leaving room for the animals to live on wildlife reserves.

WETLANDS FOUND IN THE DESERT

As supprising as it may seem there are wetlands found in the desert.