Desert Ecosystems: Climate, Soil, and Survival Strategies

1. What are the 2 formations of deserts?

Mountain and plateau deserts

Coastal and inland deserts

Tropical and arctic deserts

Warm and cold and semideserts

Deserts can be classified into warm, cold, and semideserts based on their climate and geographical location.

Explanation

Deserts can be classified into warm, cold, and semideserts based on their climate and geographical location.

2. Where are warm deserts and cold semi deserts typically located?

Found only in tropical rainforest regions.

Located at high altitudes above 5000 meters.

Only in Antarctica.

Warm deserts are typically found at latitudes 25-30, near subtropical west coasts, while cold semi deserts are located at latitudes 30-50, often in continental rainshadows. This distribution is due to specific climate conditions that favor the formation of deserts in these regions.

Explanation

Warm deserts are typically found at latitudes 25-30, near subtropical west coasts, while cold semi deserts are located at latitudes 30-50, often in continental rainshadows. This distribution is due to specific climate conditions that favor the formation of deserts in these regions.

3. What are the key climate characteristics of a desert region?

Desert regions typically have hot summers, moderate winters, low precipitation, and a significant annual water deficit, with unique characteristics such as advection fog from cold ocean currents.

Explanation

Desert regions typically have hot summers, moderate winters, low precipitation, and a significant annual water deficit, with unique characteristics such as advection fog from cold ocean currents.

4. Draw the soil moisture balance.

Look at the thermometer.

Analyze the crop yield.

See figure

Check the PH levels.

The question is asking specifically for the soil moisture balance, so looking at a thermometer, checking PH levels, or analyzing crop yield would not provide the required information.

Explanation

The question is asking specifically for the soil moisture balance, so looking at a thermometer, checking PH levels, or analyzing crop yield would not provide the required information.

5. What are the types of soils?

Loamy soils - moderate sized particles, medium surface area, moderate water holding capacity, moderate percolation, moderate run-off and evaporation.

The correct answer highlights the characteristics of coarse sandy soils in comparison to fine clay soils. Loamy, peat, and rocky soils are common soil types with their own unique properties that affect water retention, percolation, run-off, and evaporation, making them suitable or unsuitable for different plant species or agricultural practices.

Explanation

The correct answer highlights the characteristics of coarse sandy soils in comparison to fine clay soils. Loamy, peat, and rocky soils are common soil types with their own unique properties that affect water retention, percolation, run-off, and evaporation, making them suitable or unsuitable for different plant species or agricultural practices.

6. What are the vegetation characteristics of the biome?

Productivity: moderate compared to other biomes, life forms: grasses, small bushes, succulents.

Productivity: non-existent compared to other biomes, life forms: algae, moss, lichens.

Productivity: low relative to other biomeslife forms: herbs, shrubs, tree-like cacti

Productivity: high relative to other biomes, life forms: tall trees, large bushes, dense undergrowth.

The correct answer describes the vegetation characteristics of the biome, which includes low productivity and specific life forms like herbs, shrubs, and tree-like cacti. The incorrect answers provide different productivity levels and life forms that do not match the characteristics of the biome.

Explanation

The correct answer describes the vegetation characteristics of the biome, which includes low productivity and specific life forms like herbs, shrubs, and tree-like cacti. The incorrect answers provide different productivity levels and life forms that do not match the characteristics of the biome.

7. What are some adaptations of plants in a xeric biome?

Plants in xeric biomes have shallow root systems to access water easily.

Plants in xeric biomes have large leaves to retain more water.

Plants in xeric biomes rely on frequent watering to survive.

Plants in xeric biomes have specific adaptations to survive in arid conditions, such as reduced leaf size to conserve water, waxy surfaces to hold water, and spines to protect against herbivores. They do not have large leaves, rely on frequent watering, or have shallow root systems.

Explanation

Plants in xeric biomes have specific adaptations to survive in arid conditions, such as reduced leaf size to conserve water, waxy surfaces to hold water, and spines to protect against herbivores. They do not have large leaves, rely on frequent watering, or have shallow root systems.

8. What are disturbances?

Low stress environments with regular occurrences of fires.

Natural disasters that occur frequently in highly populated areas.

Disturbances caused by human activities in urban areas.

Disturbances refer to high stress environments with infrequent natural disturbances, such as fires, due to specific environmental conditions.

Explanation

Disturbances refer to high stress environments with infrequent natural disturbances, such as fires, due to specific environmental conditions.

9. What are some human impacts on the environment?

Reducing the use of single-use plastic items.

Introduced exotic grasses from other areas for the purpose of live stock

Planting more trees to increase oxygen levels.

Conserving water by turning off the tap when brushing teeth.

The correct answer highlights a specific human impact of introducing exotic grasses for livestock, which can disrupt local ecosystems. The incorrect answers either do not address human impacts on the environment or focus on positive actions like planting trees, reducing plastic use, and conserving water.

Explanation

The correct answer highlights a specific human impact of introducing exotic grasses for livestock, which can disrupt local ecosystems. The incorrect answers either do not address human impacts on the environment or focus on positive actions like planting trees, reducing plastic use, and conserving water.

10. Why is introducing another plant bad?

The new plant will help control the population of native species.

Introducing another plant has no impact on the ecosystem and its species.

Introducing another plant provides more variety and biodiversity to the ecosystem.

Introducing another plant without natural competitors can harm the ecosystem by increasing plant cover, which can lead to negative effects on native species and their habitats.

Explanation

Introducing another plant without natural competitors can harm the ecosystem by increasing plant cover, which can lead to negative effects on native species and their habitats.