Location
The Desert is located pretty much in locations on the equator, such as Northern Africa, Mexico, and Central Asia
Climate
The Desert is the driest place on earth. There is little to no precipitation and too much heat. Due to this extremely dry and hot climate, there are almost no life, and any life that exists here, is extremely well adapted to the environment
Biotic Factors
Native Species
Species Name: Ferocactus wislizeni
Common Name: Barrel Cactus
Description: "The Barrel cactus can be easily distinguished from other cacti because of it cylinder-shaped body. The cactus usually reaches from around five to eleven feet tall, and at that height it is one of the largest cacti in the North American deserts. This cactus is really a man-sized (or bigger) cylinder with numerous parallel ridges that run down the sides. These ridges are topped with dangerously sharp 3-4 inch spines. The barrel cactus is also a flowering plant. It has rings of yellow-green or red blossoms at its top.Like many plants of the world, this cactus has numerous uses. Native Americans who lived in the desert found the barrel cactus very useful." [18]
Common Name: Barrel Cactus
Description: "The Barrel cactus can be easily distinguished from other cacti because of it cylinder-shaped body. The cactus usually reaches from around five to eleven feet tall, and at that height it is one of the largest cacti in the North American deserts. This cactus is really a man-sized (or bigger) cylinder with numerous parallel ridges that run down the sides. These ridges are topped with dangerously sharp 3-4 inch spines. The barrel cactus is also a flowering plant. It has rings of yellow-green or red blossoms at its top.Like many plants of the world, this cactus has numerous uses. Native Americans who lived in the desert found the barrel cactus very useful." [18]
Species Name: Carnegiea gigantea
Common Name: Saguaro Cactus
Description: "The Saguaro Cactus has a smooth and waxy skin and is covered with two-inch spines that are located on the tree's vertical ribs. In May and June, the Cactus bears creamy white flowers with yellow centers that measured about three inches. The Saguaro Cactus flower can be found on the end of the branches. The flower only opens on cooler nights and is closed during the heat of midday. The stem of the cactus can be 18 to 24 inches in diameter, The Cactus and its branches grow upright as do all cacti in the southwestern U.S. When it rains the Saguaro Cactus soaks up water and holds it in its ribs. Since it does not rain a lot in the desert, the cactus uses the water that it stores when it doesn't rain. The Saguaro Cactus is Arizona's state flower. The average lifespan for a Saguaro cactus is about 200 years. The Saguaro Cactus lives in an especially rocky terrain consisting of desert slopes and flats. The Saguaro cactus also lives in bajadas or lowlands. The cactus likes a hot, dry climate. It does not need a lot of water to survive." [19]
Common Name: Saguaro Cactus
Description: "The Saguaro Cactus has a smooth and waxy skin and is covered with two-inch spines that are located on the tree's vertical ribs. In May and June, the Cactus bears creamy white flowers with yellow centers that measured about three inches. The Saguaro Cactus flower can be found on the end of the branches. The flower only opens on cooler nights and is closed during the heat of midday. The stem of the cactus can be 18 to 24 inches in diameter, The Cactus and its branches grow upright as do all cacti in the southwestern U.S. When it rains the Saguaro Cactus soaks up water and holds it in its ribs. Since it does not rain a lot in the desert, the cactus uses the water that it stores when it doesn't rain. The Saguaro Cactus is Arizona's state flower. The average lifespan for a Saguaro cactus is about 200 years. The Saguaro Cactus lives in an especially rocky terrain consisting of desert slopes and flats. The Saguaro cactus also lives in bajadas or lowlands. The cactus likes a hot, dry climate. It does not need a lot of water to survive." [19]
Species Name: Bufo alvarius
Common Name: Sonoran Toad
Description: "The Sonorian desert toad is olive green in color with a white "wart" bumpy area near the jaw and on the back legs. The Sonoran Desert Toad is the largest toad found in the United States, and it measures 7 inches in size. The Sonoran Desert Toad is found in the Southwest United States Desert. The toad lives in the areas of the desert that stay wet. Sonoran Desert Toads eat insects and mice. In the spring, the male toad "sings" to attract the female. A female toad can lay up to 8,000 eggs. The eggs are laid in water and hatch in 2-12 days and are called tadpoles. The tadpoles change or go through "metamorphosis" . This change can take from 3 to 8 weeks. Once the toads have changed, they live on land. They grow to their adult size in less than 1 years. Toads can live ten years or more." [20]
Common Name: Sonoran Toad
Description: "The Sonorian desert toad is olive green in color with a white "wart" bumpy area near the jaw and on the back legs. The Sonoran Desert Toad is the largest toad found in the United States, and it measures 7 inches in size. The Sonoran Desert Toad is found in the Southwest United States Desert. The toad lives in the areas of the desert that stay wet. Sonoran Desert Toads eat insects and mice. In the spring, the male toad "sings" to attract the female. A female toad can lay up to 8,000 eggs. The eggs are laid in water and hatch in 2-12 days and are called tadpoles. The tadpoles change or go through "metamorphosis" . This change can take from 3 to 8 weeks. Once the toads have changed, they live on land. They grow to their adult size in less than 1 years. Toads can live ten years or more." [20]
Species Name: Felis rufus
Common Name: Bobcat
Description: "The average bobcat weighs 15 to 20 pounds, and is 2 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet long. The bobcat looks pretty much like a regular cat except bigger. The desert bobcat's color is a mixture of white, black, brown, and orange. The bobcat often gets confused with the mountain lion because of its fearsome growl. Bobcats can be found almost anywhere, but one of the most common places is the southwest desert. They like it there the most because of the bushy, and rocky terrain. The bushes give shade if it's hot, and the rocks are a perfect hiding spot if they're hunting prey. The bobcat's diet consist of rabbits, squirrels, mice, gophers,rats, and fish. They're good at catching all their prey because of their hunting ability." [21]
Common Name: Bobcat
Description: "The average bobcat weighs 15 to 20 pounds, and is 2 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet long. The bobcat looks pretty much like a regular cat except bigger. The desert bobcat's color is a mixture of white, black, brown, and orange. The bobcat often gets confused with the mountain lion because of its fearsome growl. Bobcats can be found almost anywhere, but one of the most common places is the southwest desert. They like it there the most because of the bushy, and rocky terrain. The bushes give shade if it's hot, and the rocks are a perfect hiding spot if they're hunting prey. The bobcat's diet consist of rabbits, squirrels, mice, gophers,rats, and fish. They're good at catching all their prey because of their hunting ability." [21]
Invasive Species
Species Name: Acacia saligna
Common Name: Golden Wreath Wattle
Description: "The Golden Wreath Wattle grows as a small, dense, spreading tree with a short trunk and a weeping habit. It grows up to eight meters tall. Like many Acacia species, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves; these can be up to 25 centimeters long. At the base of each phyllode is a nectar gland, which secretes a sugary fluid. This attracts ants, which are believed to reduce the numbers of leaf-eating insects. The yellow flowers appear in early spring and late winter, in groups of up to ten bright yellow spherical flower heads. The fruit is a legume, while the seed is oblong and dark to black in color." [22]
Common Name: Golden Wreath Wattle
Description: "The Golden Wreath Wattle grows as a small, dense, spreading tree with a short trunk and a weeping habit. It grows up to eight meters tall. Like many Acacia species, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves; these can be up to 25 centimeters long. At the base of each phyllode is a nectar gland, which secretes a sugary fluid. This attracts ants, which are believed to reduce the numbers of leaf-eating insects. The yellow flowers appear in early spring and late winter, in groups of up to ten bright yellow spherical flower heads. The fruit is a legume, while the seed is oblong and dark to black in color." [22]
Species Name: Boa constrictor imperator
Common Name: Northern Boa
Description: "A well known population of Boa constrictor imperator is the population from Nicaragua. While not as small as the dwarf insular island populations, adults are still smaller than the larger Boa constrictor constrictor. The size of a mature female Nicaraguan boa is 1.1 meters and 1.9 kilograms, while the larger female Boa constrictor constrictor is not mature until it reaches 1.6 meters and 4.5 kilograms. Nicaraguan individuals typically have a compact saddle pattern on their back that is often circular in shape. These boas have a reputation for being "nippy", with some individuals being quick to bite in self-defense" [23]
Common Name: Northern Boa
Description: "A well known population of Boa constrictor imperator is the population from Nicaragua. While not as small as the dwarf insular island populations, adults are still smaller than the larger Boa constrictor constrictor. The size of a mature female Nicaraguan boa is 1.1 meters and 1.9 kilograms, while the larger female Boa constrictor constrictor is not mature until it reaches 1.6 meters and 4.5 kilograms. Nicaraguan individuals typically have a compact saddle pattern on their back that is often circular in shape. These boas have a reputation for being "nippy", with some individuals being quick to bite in self-defense" [23]
Abiotic Factors
Average Yearly Precipitation: 6 to 11 inches
Average Yearly Range of Temperature: 21 C to 49 C
Primary Soil Type: Rocky + Nutrient Lacking
Average Latitude: -10 o S to 10 o N
Average Altitude: 500 to 1500 meters above sea level
Average Yearly Range of Temperature: 21 C to 49 C
Primary Soil Type: Rocky + Nutrient Lacking
Average Latitude: -10 o S to 10 o N
Average Altitude: 500 to 1500 meters above sea level
Human Interactions
Humans aren't really found much in the deserts either. The extreme weather conditions make it very hard for humans to survive in this area. But with modern irrigation and vehicles humans have been able to interact with this biome more in the current century.