Hot Deserts

Desert ecosystems

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What is the hot desert ecosystem?
A hot desert ecosystem is defined as the
interactions between living organisms,
the climate and the soil in a hot desert

Hot deserts are extremely hostile natural

environments. They experience low annual
rainfall (less than 250mm) and extreme
temperatures (over 40°C in summer but
below freezing during winter nights). It can
even snow in deserts!

Soils tend to be sandy and dry, unable to

hold much water.

Desert plants and animals have adapted to

cope with this hostile environment.
Ouarzazate climate graph
Ouarzazate is located on the northern edge of
the Sahara Desert in Morocco

It experiences a low average annual rainfall

(150mm), most of which falls in winter

Summer temperatures are high, and can exceed

40°C. In the winter, nights can be freezing

Descending air at this

latitude (due to the
global atmospheric
circulation) brings
prolonged sunshine
and clear skies.

https://en.climate-data.org/africa/morocco/ouarzazate/ouarzazate-29482/
 Desert soils
http://geo.msu.edu/extra/soilprofiles/Aridisols.htm

Desert soils are mostly very sandy (90-95%)

Sandy soils are extremely permeable, allowing water

to pass through rapidly. As a result, they do not hold
water and tend to be very dry.

The lack of vegetation

deprives the soil of
organic matter. This
means that soils are
generally quite infertile
and friable, easily blown
or washed away.

https://slideplayer.com/slide/10051705/ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-heterogenic-desert-landscape-contains
-a-diversity-of-landforms-soils-and-various_fig7_215605371
 https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/08/102413/13-scorpion-related-deaths-in-
morocco-in-2013-ministry/

Sahara desert food web/chain

Despite the hostile conditions, the Sahara is
home to about 500 species of plants,70 species
of mammals, 300 species of birds, and 100 species
of reptiles. There are also many species of spiders
and scorpions.

Energy passes between the different species as

shown by the diagram alongside

A food chain describes one single pathway of

energy exchange between species

A food web describes the interrelationships

between plants and animals and shows connected
food chains

https://sites.google.com/site/charlessaharadesert/food-web-and-food-chain
 Animal adaptions: desert monitor lizard
The desert monitor lizard is cold-blooded and needs to
heat up during the day. Its hairless, scaly skin is
perfectly adapted to warming up on hot rocks.

Evaporation through the

mouth and heat loss
through thermal radiation
helps to regulate its
temperature.

The desert monitor lizard

hibernates during colder
periods.

https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-5676449-berber-catching-lizard-sahara- https://www.britannica.com/science/body-temperature
desert
Animal adaptations: camels
Camels are the traditional form of
transport in hot deserts because they are
very well adapted to living in such hostile
conditions.

Here’s a close-up of a camel’s hoof

https://sites.google.com/site/mrgoldengcsegeography/hot-deserts/plants-and-animals-in-hot-deserts
Plant adaptations: wild desert gourd
This creeping vine-like plant is common in the Moroccan
desert. It bears small, hard fruits with a bitter pulp.
It is also known as ‘bitter apple’.

The desert gourd has many traditional uses. Its seeds

are edible once cooked or can be used as a source of
oil. In traditional medicine, the fruit can be used as a
laxative or to treat insect bites.

It is very well adapted to living in hot deserts:

• A long tap root and fleshy roots store and supply
water from deep underground
• It can grow in infertile, sandy soils
• The small leaves reduce water loss and evaporation
• The plant can tolerate high temperatures
 Plant adaptations: calatropis procera
Calatropis pocera is a common flowering plant found in the
semi-desert of SW Morocco

Whilst the juice of the plant is poisonous, the fruits are used
in traditional medicine as an antimicrobial, an anti-cancer
and to treat leprosy. Its stems can be used for roofing and the
fibre can be used for making ropes, and fishing nets.

It is very well adapted to living in hot deserts:

• It can tolerate high temperatures and is not damaged by frost
• It has deep roots to tap water and can tolerate drought
• The plant grows well in dry, sandy and infertile soils
• It can tolerate the strong winds that occur in deserts
• Its pale, waxy leaves reflect sunshine and help retain water

https://www.teline.fr/en/photos/apocynaceae/calotropis-procera#photo-2