desert1

Desert!

Caitlin- Red Mandi- Green
 *  Austin- Yellow **

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Food Web:



Animals:

Tortoises: Since tortoises use very little energy to move, they can survive on very little food of water. They are related to lizards, but are covered in scales to protect them. Sandfish: Sandfish are lizard-like, and get their name from the fish-like way they move through the sand. They live in the Arabian Desert. Scorpion: Scorpions can live without water for several months and without food for up to a year. They are active mainly at night.

Jumping gerbils: Jumping gerbils are very adapted to the desert. They never have to drink; they get all the water they need from their food. They jump lightly over the sand to keep it from burning their feet. Some other animals that live in the desert are: Frogs Big horn sheep Spiders Fennec fox Snakes Grass hoppers Armadillos Bats Gila monsters Coyotes Kangaroo rats Camels Lizards

Threats: Even though the desert is a harsh environment, it is surprisingly easy to destroy. If any part of the desert is destroyed, it takes thousands of years to recover. Areas with ruined plants take a while to grow back. The biggest threats to the desert are:

Driving in the desert: Off-road driving has ruined huge sections of desert. Some areas are completely covered in tire tracks. The wheels of people driving cut the ground and kill vegetation. Food and shelter for many animals are ruined.

Developing desert land: Many people, who want to live where it's always sunny, are building on deserts. Desert streams have been drained and diverted to provide water for people. This takes away water from the desert animals and plants that desperately need it. In some areas, livestock that people brought with them, such as cattle and goats, have eaten desert plants. In some areas, all of the plants are gone. <span style="color: #9933ff; font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: +mj-ea; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt;"> <span style="color: lime; font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; font-size: 30pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: +mj-ea; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt;">Killing desert life: Many species of desert life are being killed off because of people. Rare cacti are being wiped out by collectors who sell them for landscaping. Another desert animal that is being erased is the tortoise, who's numbers are declining quickly. Certain plants, the food source of the tortoises, are gone because of collectors and driving. Many tortoises are also being killed while trying to cross highways.

Saving The Desert: Many people are working together to keep the desert like it should be. Laws have been passed to protect desert life. Areas of deserts have been set aside as preserves and national monuments. People can hike, ride horses, and camp. Even with the laws, however, illegal collecting continues.

<span style="color: lime; display: block; font-family: Jokerman; font-size: 48pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">Land Features: Sand dunes Flat dry land Mountains

Locations: North Africa East South America East North America Australia Asia Deserts make up about 33% of Earth's land surface.

Climate: Hot: The normal temperature for the day is over 100 degrees during the day and below 50 degrees during the night. Less than 25 centimeters of rain per year Low latitude Dry Chilly at night

Plants: Most plants in the desert can contain water, so that they are able to survive for longer periods of time without rain. Cacti Ironwood Jumping Cholla Brittle Bush Creosote Bush

Bibliography:

<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Kristen ITC'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">

Desert Fox." Web. 24 Feb 2010. <[]>.

"Gila Monster." Web. 24 Feb 2010. <[]>.

Ricciuti, Edward. // Biomes of the World: Desert //. Benchmark Books, 1996. Print.

Vann, William. // Saguaro Cactus //. // EduPic.net //. Web. 18 Feb. 2010.

"Black Desert." Web. 26 Feb 2010. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Black-desert-egypt.jpg>.

Taylor, B. (1992). // Desert life: a close-up look at the natural world of a desert. //New York: "Sahara Desert ." Web. 26 Feb 2010. <[]>