Desert Ecosystems

Desert an ecosystem found

where there is very little rainfall.

Deserts are dry and hot. There are very few clouds.
Two kinds of deserts:
Hot deserts
Cold deserts

Hot deserts
Temperatures are very warm all year round
The summers are very hot

Cold deserts
Short, warm summers
Long, cold winters
Found in places near the north and south poles

Desert Plants

Many plants are found in the desert. They

usually grow close to the ground.
These plants have special parts that help
them save water.
The special parts are: thick stem, shallow
and wide roots, and thick skin covered
with spines instead of leaves.

Desert Animals
There are many animals in the desert.
They can survive by eating other animals or by
eating plants that store water.
To protect them from the hot sun, they stay in the
shade or in their shelter.
Animals may build their shelters inside plants.
Some animals sleep during the day and are
active at night.
Some animals have hard shells to protect them
from losing much water.
More animals live in hot deserts than in cold
deserts.

Anteater

Camel

Roadrunner

Gila monster (lizard)

Scorpion

Deserts in the United States

Great Basin Desert
Mojave Desert
Chihuahua Desert
Sonoran Desert

Great Basin Desert

Idaho
California

Nevada

Utah

Mojave Desert

Utah
California
Nevada

Arizona

Chihuahuan Desert

Arizona

New Mexico

Texas

Sonoran Desert

California

Arizona

Review
What is a desert?
How do plants survive in the desert?
How do animals survive in the desert?

Learn more about deserts

http://www.jlhs.nhusd.k12.ca.us/Classes/Science/Net_Lessons/Biomes
/deserts.html#anchor325870
Desert information
http://idptv.state.id.us/dialogue4kids/season3/desert/plants.html
Desert information
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/desert/tplants.htm Desert plants
http://www.brainpop.com/science/ecology/desert/index.weml?
&tried_cookie=true
Desert