What have you learned about tropical deserts?
Question
Describe how the climate of deserts influences the animals that live there and the vegetation that grows there.
( Hint, refer to climate graph and quote months and figures. Explain how animals and plants adapt to these conditions.)
Deserts have two distinct seasons: summer and winter. The highest monthly rainfall is in January with 2.3mm and the lowest rainfall occurring in June, July, August and September with no rainfall at all.
Deserts tend to receive less than 250mm of rainfall per year. Temperatures are very high in summer months with June and July having temperatures of 37°C.
Winter months are cooler with temperatures dropping to 13°C in January. Desert are very hot during the day but get cold at night.
Due to the lack of rainfall and high temperatures plants have adapted to survive in the thin rocky sand. Cacti have thick waxy leaves which store water. They have shallow roots which spread over a wide area to tap into water when it does rain. Cacti have spikes on their steams and leaves to stop them being eaten by animals.
The desert iguana changes colour to regulate body temperature. It is darkest in the morning to absorb more heat from the sun, and turns nearly pure white by early afternoon to reflect sunlight.
Camels store fat in their humps which they use for energy which means they can go for months without eating. They have long eye lashes and nostrils that open and close to protect them during sand storms. They have padded feet so their feet don’t burn on the hot sand.