Ben Bondoc 6/9/2011 P6

The Desert
Climate The climate of the desert is rather hot. Seeing as how it is like this, the annual precipitation is less than 25 cm. The desert biome is located typically between 20 and 25 latitude. It is still argued that Antarctica can be considered a desert due to its lack of rain and plant life. During the summer, the temperatures can reach over 45C. Winter temperatures can reach below -4C , again putting in mind that you can consider Antarctica a desert; although this temperature can be achieved in some deserts. Extreme temperatures in the highs range from 43.5C to 49 C. As you can see, it the desert is rather hot and baron. The thing about the desert though is that animals adapted themselves over millions of years just to be able to survive in this very interesting and unique biome.

Vegetation and Animals Like I had said earlier, the desert is quite baron because of its little precipitation levels. Plants find it hard to grow here due to this. Very few animals live there due to their extreme climates, cold or hot. As we live in a desert, there is quite a lot of sun. The desert contains little vegetation because it receives hardly any rain. The desert itself is just so empty. for miles and miles you have absolutely nothing but sun and dirt. When compared to the poles, it is a completely different story. The baron icy desert contains little to no plant life or any life.

7 Organisms I have chosen to be put in the kaleidoscope Desert Horned Lizard Lanner Falcon Scorpion Diamondback Rattlesnake Dromedary Camel Elf Owl Columnar Cactus

Adaptations for the Horned Lizard The Horned Lizard is quite the reptile. By its name it has the very defensive quality of having spikes for defense. Adding to defense from predators, these spikes act as well for intimidation. On top of this intimidation, it has the ability to shoot blood from its eyelid for self defense. On top of this they have the ability of camouflage, in which they can turn their skins darker or lighter according to their habitat. These creatures are actually quite harmless though. In the fall this animal will dig a burrow and hibernate until spring. When the sunrays reach a certain temperature, they will jump out of the burrow created and "sunbathe." These lizards would lie flat or at an angle to get the most of the sun's rays. When they reach a certain temperature of heat they break off this sunbathing and start to find food. Since these lizards aren't the fastest of all, they go for slow moving prey. Their main source of food is ants. In the reproduction process, the eggs that are produced are put in a tunnel underneath the ground. The number of eggs are usually around 13-15, depending on the species. Adaptations for the Cactus Cacti have adapted immensely to the desert. Cacti are a type of plant that obviously survives in the desert, but people always ask how. It's quite a simple yet productive adaptation actually. The cactus has roots close to the surface of the soil. Because of the lack of rain and the hot weather, whatever rain the desert receives evaporates quite fast. The cactus' short roots give it the ability to suck up this water right before it evaporates. Another way for providing food for itself is that it produces its own food. The cactus has small pores inside. When there isn't any moisture left for the plant, the plant's pores open up and release a small amount of moisture as an emergency backup for food. These pores also release amounts of carbon dioxide, helping the plant with respiration. Adding on to this, the cactus has a very stiff spines, for a defensive act towards predators and to help with survival. Cacti reproduce both asexually and sexually. The asexual reproduction can occur when limbs fall off of the cactus. Sexual reproduction of cacti occurs during an event called cross pollination. During cross pollination, pollen transfers from one cactus to another, helping growth.