The Desert EcosystemThe Desert Ecosystem

Created By Joseph Abad, Sevag Boursalian, Camryn Gallardo, and

Davis Lahm

Desert AreasDesert Areas

Desert EcosystemsDesert Ecosystems

Physical Features in DesertsPhysical Features in Deserts • Sand dunes• Cacti• Oasis

Desert Food WebDesert Food WebAnimals that eat insects and plants get

eaten by carnivores, and domesticated animals like camels, get fed oats by humans.

Human Activity in DesertsHuman Activity in Deserts

• “Human activity causes deserts to expand.”• “Rapid loss of fertile land causes deserts to expand.”• “Too much grazing causes plant life to be destroyed.”• “Mining, improper farming methods, and tree

destruction causes desert expansion.”

A Desert Animal A Desert Animal

• The Thorny Devil.

• The Thorny Devil can change its color to catch prey or hide from enemies.

• It is a consumer.

• It is an endangered animal.

• Its many spines make it one of the oddest lizards in the world.

Extension of Desert animalsExtension of Desert animals

• The Banded Gila Monster• Its color can be pink, orange, or red with 4 or 5

black bands.• They can be very shy but can strike back very

fast.• The Banded Gila Monster is a consumer.• It is an endangered animal.• It is a unique animal because one of the two

venomous lizards in the world.

Another Desert AnimalAnother Desert Animal

• Desert Kangaroo Rat• The Desert Kangaroo Rat looks like a mini

kangaroo.• It has a cheek pouch to hold more food.• It is a consumer.• They survive well in the desert.• This animal is unique because of it looks like a

kangaroo and a mouse mixed together.

Last Two Desert AnimalsLast Two Desert Animals• Bobcat• The Bobcat weighs 15-

20lbs.• Its color is a mixture of

white, black, brown, and orange.

• This animal has a great hunting ability.

• It is a consumer.• This animal is unique

because it likes rocky terrain.

• Armadillo Lizard.• This animal has a small,

scaly body.• It feeds on a wide variety

of insects.

• It is an endangered animal.

• It is a consumer.• This animal is unique

because of its ability to roll up into a ball.

Three Very Interesting, Unusual Three Very Interesting, Unusual Desert PlantsDesert Plants

• Saguaro Cactus: Its thick stem and branches help it hold water. Lives for about 200 years. Animals can’t create pollination without this tree.

• Joshua Tree: Can live for about 200 years. If we didn’t have this tree, people who live where it grows would not survive.

• Soaptree Yucca: The plant has been introduced to eastern soil, thanks to its exotic look. It can be found in climates not so hot as the desert. This kind of plant has been used as emergency food for ranchers’ cattle.

• By Botanist Joseph.

TemperatureTemperature

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How the desert is unique and How the desert is unique and precipitation precipitation

• The desert is unique because most deserts are found next to rainforests and it covers one third of the WORLD.

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BibliographyBibliography

• http://www.geocities.com

• http://www.enchantedlearning.com

• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org

• http://www.mbgnet.net

• Google

• And our Brains