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