Compare And Contrast Desert Biome

According to “Climate” by Marietta College, there are two types of deserts, subtropical and temperate. Both of these deserts receive less than 100 centimeters of precipitation per year, earning them the classification of desert. Desert plants must undergo many adaptations in order to survive the unusually dry conditions that are associated with a desert. There is a long list of adaptations, but some of the most common are the reduction of leaves, development of the stem as a major photosynthetic structure, coating plant in thick wax, dense coating of hair, and an extensive underground root system. Plants, such as cacti, will reduce their amount of leaves and normally replace them with spikes to offer protection. Also, the flat surface of leaves
These strategies for survival include a nocturnal lifestyle, living in burrows, having slender bodies with long limbs, being able to reduce water loss, and having their eyes protected from the sun. When animals are nocturnal, they sleep during the day and come out during the night. In the desert, this allows animals to stay out of the brutal heat during the day and, instead come out during the night. Animals that live in burrows are able to stay in a cooler and more humid place during the hot day as compared to animals who do not live in a burrow. Another important characteristic of desert animals is having slender bodies with long limbs because these are better for shedding heat. Animals have several adaptations for reducing water loss, such as specialized snouts, waxy body coatings, and efficient kidneys. Water is hard for desert animals to obtain, so it is essential that they are able to retain the water that they have within them. The animals that come out during the day need to keep their eyes protected from the sun. Long eyelashes and/or deep-set eyes are able to reduce harsh sunlight and evaporation from the eyes. Overall, animals have undergone many adaptations that help them to survive in the desert