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Desert Life Notes

Desert Life Notes. Every drop of water counts. Beat the heat. Find food. Wax coated leaves minimize water loss (transpiration) Deep roots tap into groundwater Widely spread, shallow roots collect water after brief rain showers (water stored in spongy layer of cactus)

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Desert Life Notes

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  1. Desert Life Notes

  2. Every drop of water counts Beat the heat Find food • Wax coated leaves minimize water loss (transpiration) • Deep roots tap into groundwater • Widely spread, shallow roots collect water after brief rain showers (water stored in spongy layer of cactus) • Drop leaves during long dry spells  dormant • Fast reproduction

  3. Tend to be small in size • Hide during the day, active at night/early morning • Get water from dew or food they eat • Become dormant during periods of extreme heat/drought • Many physical adaptations • Big ears  release body heat to cool down mammals • Thick outer covering to minimize water loss through evaporation (insects/reptiles) • Reduce water loss by having dry feces and excreting a dried concentrate of urine • Little to no hair

  4. Large desert cities • Soil destruction by vehicles or urban development • Livestock overgrazing • Land disturbance & pollution from mineral extraction (coal, oil, natural gas, etc) • Storage of toxic and radioactive wastes • Deserts recover VERY slowly • Slow plant growth • Very slow decomposition - recycling of nutrients for plants! • Low species diversity • Water shortages

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