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The Desert Ecosystem: Desert Ecology Is The Study of Interactions Between

Desert ecosystems are defined by interactions between organisms, climate, and other environmental factors. Deserts experience a wide range of temperatures depending on their classification as hot, semiarid, coastal, or cold. Organisms in deserts have adapted to the extreme temperatures and aridity through mechanisms like burrowing, nocturnal activity, increased water retention, and reduced water loss. Plants also demonstrate adaptations like closing stomata during the day, water storage, and reduced leaf surface area to survive the harsh desert conditions.

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271 views3 pages

The Desert Ecosystem: Desert Ecology Is The Study of Interactions Between

Desert ecosystems are defined by interactions between organisms, climate, and other environmental factors. Deserts experience a wide range of temperatures depending on their classification as hot, semiarid, coastal, or cold. Organisms in deserts have adapted to the extreme temperatures and aridity through mechanisms like burrowing, nocturnal activity, increased water retention, and reduced water loss. Plants also demonstrate adaptations like closing stomata during the day, water storage, and reduced leaf surface area to survive the harsh desert conditions.

Uploaded by

MateiDumitru
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The desert ecosystem

Desert ecology is the study of interactions between


both biotic and abiotic components of desert environments. A desert ecosystem is
defined by interactions between organism populations, the climate in which they live,
and any other non-living influences on the habitat. Deserts are arid regions which are
generally associated with warm temperatures, however cold deserts also exist.
Deserts can be found in every continent, with the largest deserts located
in Antarctica, the Arctic, Northern Africa, and the Middle East.

Climate
Deserts experience a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, and can
be classified into four types: hot, semiarid, coastal, and cold. Hot deserts experience
warm temperatures year round, and low annual precipitation. Low levels of humidity
in hot deserts contribute to high daytime temperatures, and extensive nighttime heat
loss. The average annual temperature in hot deserts is approximately 20 to 25 °C,
however, extreme weather conditions can lead to temperatures ranging from -18 to
49 °C.
Rainfall generally occurs in concentrated bursts, followed by long periods of
dryness. Semiarid deserts experience similar conditions to hot deserts, however,
the maximum and minimum temperatures tend to be less extreme, and generally
range from 10 to 38 °C. Coastal deserts are cooler than hot and semiarid deserts,
with average summer temperatures ranging between 13 and 24 °C. They also
feature higher total rainfall values. Cold deserts are similar in temperature to coastal
deserts, however, they receive more annual precipitation in the form of
snowfall.Deserts are most notable for their dry climates; usually a result from their
surrounding geography. For example, rain-blocking mountain ranges, and distance
from oceans are two geographic features that contribute to desert aridity. As air rises
and cools, its relative humidity increases and some or most moisture rains out,
leaving little to no water vapor to form precipitation on the other side of the mountain
range.
Deserts occupy one-fifth of the Earth's land surface and occur in two belts: between
15° and 35° latitude in both the southern and northern hemispheres. These bands
are associated with the high solar intensities that all areas in the tropics receive.Dry
winds hold little moisture for these areas, and also tend to evaporate any water
present.
Many desert ecosystems are limited by available water levels, rather than rates of
radiation or temperature. Water flow in these ecosystems can be thought of as
similar to energy flow; in fact, it is often useful to look at water and energy flow
together when studying desert ecosystems and ecology.

Organism adaptation

The high body temperatures of  camels allows them to preserve water.

Animals
Deserts support diverse communities of plant and animals that have evolved
resistance, and circumventing methods of extreme temperatures and arid conditions.
For example, desert grasslands are more humid and slightly cooler than its
surrounding ecosystems. Many animals obtain energy by eating the surrounding
vegetation, however, desert plants are much more difficult for organisms to
consume.To avoid intense temperatures, the majority of small desert mammals are
nocturnal, living in burrows to avoid the intense desert sun during the daytime. These
burrows prevent overheating and dehydration as they maintain an optimal
temperature for the mammal. Desert ecology is characterized by dry, alkaline soils,
low net production and opportunistic feeding patterns by herbivores and carnivores.

Desert climates are particularly demanding on endothermic organisms. However,


endothermic organisms have adapted mechanisms to aid in water retention in
habitats such as desert ecosystems which are commonly affected by drought.
Nocturnal desert rodents, like the kangaroo rat, will spend the daytime in cool
burrows deep underground, and emerge at night to seek food. Birds are much more
mobile than ground-dwelling endotherms, and can therefore avoid heat-induced
dehydration by flying between water sources. To prevent overheating, the body
temperatures of many desert mammals have adapted to be much higher than non-
desert mammals. Camels, for example, can maintain body temperatures that are
about equal to typical desert air temperatures. This adaptations allows camels to
retain large amounts of water for extended periods of time.
Plants

The hairy, white bristles of the old man cactus help deflect strong desert sunlight.

Although deserts have severe climates, some plants still manage to grow. Plants that
can survive in arid deserts are called xerophytes, meaning they are able to survive
long dry periods. Such plants may close their stomata during the daytime and open
them again at night. During the night, temperatures are much cooler, and plants will
experience less water loss, and intake larger amounts of carbon dioxide for
photosynthesis.
Adaptations in xerophytes include resistance to heat and water loss, increased water
storage capabilities, and reduced surface area of leaves. One of the most common
families of desert plants are the cacti, which are covered in sharp spines or bristles
for defence against herbivory. The bristles on certain cacti also have the ability to
reflect sunlight, such as those of the old man cactus. Certain xerophytes,
like oleander, feature stomata that are recessed as a form of protection against hot,
dry desert winds, which allows the leaves to retain water more effectively. Another
unique adaptation can be found in xerophytes like ocotillo, which are "leafless during
most of the year, thereby avoiding excessive water loss".
There are also plants called phreatophytes which have adapted to the harsh desert
conditions by developing extremely long root systems, some of which are 80 ft. long;
to reach the water table which ensures a water supply to the plant.

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