Desert Ecosystems

Desert Ecosystems

What Is a Desert?

Deserts are large ecosystems that receive very little rainfall.


Most deserts get less than 10-inches of rain per year, though some do get up to 20-inches. The Sonoran Desert in the American Southwest is one of the wettest deserts in the world, sometimes receiving up to 20-inches of rain per year. The Atacama Desert in South America, on the other hand, averages less than a centimeter of rain per year and sometimes goes several years without any rain at all!


Most people picture deserts as barren, lifeless landscapes with a hot, scorching sun. While some deserts are mostly barren, others are filled with plants and animals! Because of the extreme environment, desert plants and animals have some of the most incredible and unique adaptations on the planet.


Deserts like Death Valley and the Sahara Desert are some of the hottest ecosystems in the world. However, not all deserts are hot. There are actually four different types of deserts. Check it out!

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Well Known Deserts

Sonoran Desert

Located in the Southwest United States, the Sonoran Desert is an arid desert and is home to many unique species of animals, like Gila monsters, and plants, like saguaro cacti. Summer temperatures reach more than 115 degrees and rain comes in seasonal monsoons.

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Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert on the west coast of Chile in South America is the driest desert in the world. Some regions of this huge landscape do not see rain for decades. As a coastal desert, some regions of the Atacama experience fog that provides small amounts of moisture to the ecosystem.

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Antarctica

Antarctica is the largest desert in the world! This frozen desert receives less than 2-inches of precipitation per year. Though the Antarctic gets snowfall, it stays frozen and turns into large sheets of ice. The lack of rain and freezing temperatures make this a very challenging ecosystem.

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What Challenges Do Organisms Face in the Desert?

1

Deserts Have Little Rainfall

Because there is little rainfall, plants and animals have had to develop ways to conserve water and survive for extended periods without drinking.

2

Deserts Have Extreme Temperatures

While not all deserts are hot, deserts usually have extreme temperatures. Hot deserts can reach more than 100 degrees in the summer, while cold deserts can be well below 0 degrees for much of the year!

3

Deserts Have High Sun Exposure

Some deserts, especially arid deserts, get extreme amounts of sun that quickly dries out the landscape and burns young plants.

4

Deserts Have Poor Soil Quality

Many cold deserts have soil that is frozen for most of the year; we call this permafrost. Other deserts have little organic matter (plants or animals) to decompose, so the soil is low in nutrients.

Desert Plants

Desert plants have had to adapt to survive all of the challenges the desert presents! Most plants lose water through tiny hole on their leaves and stems through a process called transpiration. Desert plants have adapted to reduce transpiration, store water, and survive in extreme temperatures! Take a look at how.


Waxy Coating

A waxy coating on leaves and stems helps traps in moisture to reduce water loss through transpiration.


Thorns

Some plants, like cacti, have thorns (which are modified leaves!) to protect them from herbivores and to help shade the plant from the harsh sun.


Tiny Leaves

Plants with tiny leaves are better at avoiding harsh rays from the sun. Plants that have large leaves are better adapted to live in areas with less sunlight because it helps them collect more light.


Wide Roots

Many desert plants have wide, shallow roots that allow them to absorb as much water as they can before it evaporates. Some also have a deep taproot that reaches down into groundwater!


Storing Water

Some desert plants have plump leaves that expand to hold water or, in the case of many cacti, the whole plant can expand after heavy rainfall.


Let's take a look at some of the most well-adapted desert plants!

Saguaro Cactus

Saguaro cacti are endemic to (only found in) the Sonoran Desert in the American Southwest. They are huge plants, often reaching more than 40-ft tall. They are also very long-lived and have been documenting surviving the harsh desert for more than 200 years. Saguaros have a wide, shallow root system that can be as wide as the cactus is tall. After heavy rainfall, a mature saguaro will expand and become plump as it absorbs more than 100 gallons of water. This cactus is covered in a waxy coating that traps water and sharp spines that protect it from thirsty herbivores and provides shade from the hot sun.

African Baobab Tree

African baobab trees are incredibly long-lived trees that are native to dry savannas of Africa. Like other desert plants, baobab trees have small leaves that help reduce water loss through transpiration. They will lose their leaves for the majority of the year and grow them again during the rainy season. The most iconic and beneficial part of the baobab tree is its large, water-storing trunks. Some baobab trunks have measured more than 40-ft in diameter and can grow more than 60-ft tall. They also have wide, shallow roots that often grow wider than the tree is tall. Baobab trees are able to absorb They also have cork-like bark that is fire-resistant and helps to trap in moisture. Because of these adaptations that make them so successful, baobab trees have been known to live longer than 1,500 years.

Creosote Bush

Creosote bushes are large, hardy shrubs that can be found in the southwestern regions of North America. They are incredibly common in their range, as they have mastered surviving in the desert climate. Creosote bushes have very small leaves that are covered in a waxy coating. This waxy coating makes the leaves taste bad (thus protecting the plant from predators) and helps to trap in moisture. When it rains, the leaves produce a wonderful "desert smell." Creosote bushes are able to survive extreme droughts by entering a dormant phase. The seeds of creosote bushes are covered in fine, white hairs that help them get caught in the wind and spread across the landscape. Creosote bushes provide shelter for many animals, which then provide the creosote bush with nutrients from their leftovers and droppings.

Palo Verde

Palo verde trees, which can be also be found in the Sonoran Desert, are one of the most unique plants in their ecosystem. The name "palo verde" is Spanish for "green stick," which accurately describes the bark of a palo verde tree! Palo verde trees are unique because they have photosynthetic bark. Most plants absorb light and photosynthesize in their leaves; palo verde trees are able to photosynthesize and produce energy without any leaves at all! These trees normally have leaves that are very, very small, which helps reduce water loss through transpiration. During droughts, palo verde trees can drop their leaves entirely to prevent transpiration and still produce energy to stay alive!

Desert Plant Dilemma

For the photos below, determine if the plant is well adapted to live in the desert or if they would struggle to survive. Click the drop-down arrow to check your work!

several agaves scattering the barren, brown, desert landscape
  • 1. AGAVE

    Desert plant.


    Agaves have tick leaves that are able to store large amounts of moisture. The thick outer coating helps trap water inside.

a group of lily pads floating on still, green water
  • 2. LILYPAD

    Not a desert plant.


    Lilypads require still water, like ponds or lakes, to thrive, something that is rare in the desert. They have large leaves that attract lots of sunlight.

row of banana trees with giant green leaves
  • 3. BANANA TREE

    Not a desert plant.


    Banana trees have huge leaves that would allow too much moisture to escape if they were in the desert. They thrive in humid, tropical areas. 

prickly pear cactus in a desert with cliffs in the distance
  • 4. PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS

    Desert plant.


    Prickly pear cacti are a common desert plant. The large pads have a waxy coating that traps water and can expand after heavy rain. The thorns help shade them from intense sun and deter herbivores.

green maple leaves on a large tree absorbing lots of sunlight
  • 5. MAPLE TREE

    Not a desert plant.


    Maple trees have large, wide leaves that would make it challenging for them to survive in dry climates. 

ocotillo with green leaves on a desert landscape
  • 6. OCOTILLO

    Desert plant. 


    Ocotillos are covered in thorns that help block sunlight. They can drop their leaves during the dry season to reduce transpiration and remain dormant for several years! After the rain, they will regrow their leaves. 

Desert Animals

Desert animals face many of the same challenges that desert plants face. Through physical and behavioral adaptations, many animals have learned to master surviving in the harsh desert environment!


Collecting Water

Some animals can get most of the moisture they need from their food while others wait for the seasonal rainfall and stock up (sometimes drinking gallons at a time!).


Light Colors

Light colors reflect sunlight and keep animals cool, whereas dark colors would attract sunlight and cause animals to overheat.


Avoid the Heat of the Day

Many desert animals avoid the hottest parts of the day be being nocturnal (active at night-time) or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).


Avoid the Hottest Seasons

Some desert species avoid the harsh seasons all together by entering a state of inactivity that helps them conserve energy and avoid extreme temperatures.


Ways for Heat to Escape the Body

Some desert animals have large ears, throat flaps, or other body parts that allow heat to escape. As heat escapes through the thin layers of skin, cooler blood flows back to the rest of the body.


Desert animals have evolved to be very unique and have incredible adaptations! Check it out.

Desert Tortoise

Desert tortoises are native to the harsh Sonoran Desert and have developed many physical and behavioral adaptations to survive. To avoid the cold winters, desert tortoises will brumate in underground burrows where temperatures are more stable and they are protected from predators. They are most active after a large rainstorm when they venture out to find food, water, or a mate. Desert tortoises can store extra water in their bladder that they can use during the dry seasons. They also absorb moisture through their herbivorous diet. 

Fennec Fox

Native to the hot, sandy Sahara Desert, the fennec fox has had to adapt to withstand summer temperatures of more than 100 degrees! Their light-colored fur helps them reflect sunlight and camouflage into the sand. While they are mostly active at night-time to avoid the hot temperatures, their feet are covered in fur so they don't get burned on the hot sand. Perhaps the most noticeable adaptation is their large ears that allow excess heat to escape from the bodies in a process called 'ear-conditioning.' As the heat escapes, cooler blood flows back to the rest of their body.

Couch's Spadefoot Toad

Native to the Sonoran Desert, the Couch's spadefoot toad has adapted to take full advantage of the seasonal rains. Couch's spadefoot toads will spend most of the year hiding underground conserving energy. They only emerge after the first monsoon to stock up on insects, find a mate, and lay eggs! Females will lay as many as 3,000 eggs and because ponds and puddles dry up quickly in the desert, eggs will hatch in less than two days and metamorphosis is complete in around 2 weeks! 

 Gila Monster

Gila monsters are an incredibly unique lizard; they are one of just a few species of lizards that are venomous! Their venom helps them catch prey and defend themselves from desert predators, like hawks and coyotes. Gila monsters hope to remain unnoticed by their predators by camouflaging into the desert landscape. They use their sharp claws to dig burrows in the hot, hard desert ground where they spend the dry season. They also use their claws to dig for eggs, one of their favorite food items. To survive the dry seasons, they rely on fat stored in their large tails, just like camels store in their humps!

Desert Bighorn Sheep

Desert bighorn sheep use their tan coloration to blend into the brown landscape and to reflect light, which keeps their body temperatures down. Their small, rough hooves allow them to move easily across large, hot rocks. Desert bighorn sheep can go weeks without water during the cooler seasons because of the moisture they get from their diet of cacti and leaves. When they do find water, they can drink more than a gallon in just a few minutes! Bighorn sheep are mostly active at dawn and dust to avoid the hottest parts of the day and reduce water loss.

Desert Animal Adaptations

Now that we know some of the characteristics that help animals survive in the desert, let's practice!


In 1-2 paragraphs, design and describe the perfect desert animal. Identify what kind of animal it is (mammals, birds, etc.) and describe some of the physical characteristics and behaviors that would help it thrive in the extreme desert environment!

Glossary

Adaptation

The process by which a species becomes more fit for its environment over the course of several generations. It is a result of natural selection.

Arid

Having little moisture or rainfall.

Brumation

A state of inactivity in ectotherms (cold-blooded animals) during the winter months.

Camouflage

The ability for an organism to blend into their surroundings usually to hide from prey or predators.

Carnivore

An animal that eats other animals.

Conserve

To avoid wasting or destroying something.

Ectotherm

An animal that relies on the outside temperature to regulate their body temperature (reptiles and amphibians). Also known as cold-blooded.

Endemic

Being native to a specific area.

Endotherm

An animal that regulates their body temperature internally (mammals and birds). Also known as warm-blooded.

Evaporation

The process of water changing from liquid form to gas form.

Herbivore

An animal that eats mostly plants.

Monsoon

A large, seasonal wind and rain storm.

Omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and animals.

Predator

An animal that hunts other animals for food.

Prey

An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.

Transpiration

The process of water vapor escaping through small pores of plants.

Venom

A toxin that is injected into prey through teeth or a stinger.

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