Desert

Biome
 Group 3:

Anagaran, Ancheta, Arellano, Purugganan,

Chena Krisha Aira Jane Darlene Avie Ashley
 Introduction
Deserts are defined by their arid conditions. Biologists have long seen deserts as laboratories
of nature, where natural selection is exposed at its most extreme. Generations of scientists
have focused on the numerous unique adaptations of plants and animals for surviving the
harsh desert environment. Indeed, such studies have made the adaptations of desert
organisms some of the best-known examples of Darwinian natural selection. While the
abiotic environment defines deserts and imposes strong selection pressure on the organisms
that live there, the biotic interactions among the organisms in deserts are no less exciting or
intricate than those of other environments. This chapter emphasizes the myriad ways in
which organisms exploit the enormous spatial and temporal variation in deserts, leading to
the creation of unique assemblages with surprisingly high diversity.
 What is
01 Desert
Biome?
 Desert Biome
The desert biome is the characteristic community of animals and
plants found in the world’s deserts. Deserts are found on every
continent and make up around 30 percent of the earth’s surface. The
main characteristic of deserts is a shortage (or complete lack of)
precipitation; some desert regions go for years on end without rain.
 02
Desert Characteristics
 Three Desert Characteristics
Low Precipitation

Clear Skies / Extremes of temperature

Slow- growing Plants

 Types of Desert
03 and their
Location
 04
Desert Plants &
Animals
 Desert Biome Plants

Desert plants must obtain moisture and store it for times

when no rain falls. Some have a network of shallow roots
that enables them to absorb moisture that falls onto the soil,
including drops of dew or condensed fog. Others have deep
tap roots that can reach water far below the surface.
The most diverse family of desert plants is the daisy family. These plants
are therophytes, which means that they spend most of their lives as
seeds, only germinating when rain has fallen.

Desert plants are adapted to their arid

environment in many ways. Small leaves on
desert plants help reduce moisture loss during
photosynthesis. Small leaves mean less
evaporative surface per leaf. In addition, a small
leaf in the sun doesn't reach as high a temperature
as a large leaf.
 Desert Biome Animals
Examples of desert animals include invertebrates such as scorpions and camel spiders; reptiles
such as the Gila monster and sidewinder rattlesnake; mammals such as the kit fox, dromedary
and Bactrian camel.
Camel Spider
Deathstalker
Scorpio
Desert Iguana
Desert Tortoise
Dromedary
Gila Monster
Kit Fox
Red-spotted Toad
Side Winder
 References
https://www.activewild.com/desert-biome/
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptile
s/facts/gila-monster
https://www.activewild.com/desert-animals/
#desert-animals-list
Thank you For
listening!