Saguaros cactus in the desert
Desert plants often look different than plants in any other biome as they need to not only collect and store water but reduce water loss too. Hence, cacti and succulents have thick stems to store water or spiky leaves to prevent as much water loss through the air or ward off animals that might eat them.
Deserts make up about 20% of total land cover on earth and are characterized by little (less than 50cm/year) or no rainfall. Desert biomes come in four major kinds, however in this research guide, we will be focusing on the Hot and Dry Desert. Most hot and dry deserts lie north and south of the earth's equator where the sun's rays are strongest and have very little rainfall in summer or winter (25 cm or less). They can be extremely hot during the day with maximum temperatures of 40° C to over 50° C and cold at night with minimum of 0° C to below freezing point. The Sahara is the largest hot and dry desert in the world with a record of reaching the 57° C temperature in 1922.
Animals in desert regions are looking for food to eat and trying to avoid being eaten! This book describes the life cycles of 11 desert animals -- how they live, reproduce and link with others in the food chain and food web.
What is an oasis? How do desert squirrels keep cool? Why do some desert plants have long roots? Find the answers to these questions and more in Habitat Survival. This book looks at some of the world's driest places. Discover what these amazing habitats are like, and find out about the plants and animals that live there.
Environments matter in our daily lives! Discover Earth's deserts, how they are created, the people and animals living in them, and the natural resources they contain.
This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Sahara Desert in North Africa. The biggest hot desert on Earth, it covers parts of twelve countries - more area than the entire United States! Readers will learn about the people, plants, and animals such as camels, goats, and fennec foxes that inhabit this desert habitat.
Explains how deserts are formed and explores the physical and human activities that affect and shape earth's driest regions, from climatic factors to land-use, tourism, and industry effects. Case studies are also discussed.
Dromedary (one-hump) camels in the desert
Despite the intense heat and lack of water, we can find animals which not only survive but thrive in hot and dry deserts. For example, the camel not only stores fat in its hump which supplies it with energy and moisture, it also has wide padded feet that allows for walking on rocks and hot sand.