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Living conditions in hot deserts - Coggle Diagram
Living conditions in hot deserts
These biomes are characterised by
Hot seasons for most of the year
Average annual rainfall below 250 millimeters
Extreme daily variation in temperature up to 50 degrees during the day to below 0 degrees at night
Clear skies all day and night
Coarse sandy soils with good drainage, little sub-surface water but low in nutrients and organic matter
Adapting to desert life
Beginnings
Plants are low-growing
Some animals can store food and water for days
Animals are often small
Small animals ca hide in burrows or under stones
Some rodents are nocturnal
Plants have roots that travel horizontally
Insects and reptiles have waterproof skins
Plants have long roots
Plants have small,thick leaves or needles
Endings
Avoid water loss by strong winds
prevent water loss by evapotranspiration
Reach underground water supplies
Use in dry periods
Reach the maximum area for water and to find any surface moisture
there is less water loss from a small surface area
They can avoid intense daytime heat
They can hunt in cooler nights
They can retain water in their bodies
They can travel far without the need for daily supplies
Desert ecosystems face changes
Less rainfall and more drought will increase desertification and extend desert areas. People may have to migrate into more crowded areas
Increased winds will blow more sand grains onto agricultural land. Food supplies will suffer
Diverting rivers for irrigation or HEP reservoirs will reduce water flow through desert areas. People may migrate into towns for water supplies
Modern mines excavate below the water table and pump out water, making it lower. Abandoned mines leave copper, leave and nitrate to pollute drinking water and affect irrigation as well as plants and animals. Each mine causes dust, noise and damage. Roads and oil and gas pipelines also affect the desert ecosystem
Tourists are looking for exciting desert activities such as camel trekking, off-road dune buggying and star- gazing- Local people earn good money as guides, camel owners or buggy drivers.
Many scientists think that hot deserts are ideal places to develop solar energy, as they recieve intense sunlight and have plenty of space to build solar farms.
Increased development of settlements and roads as countries develop their economies will change the nomadic way of life