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Adaptations of Mojave Plants and Animals

Adaptations of Mojave Plants and Animals. By Joanna Wang. Challenges to survival in the Mojave. Water scarcity Arid air Winds evaporate little moisture present little rain fall Poor soils Lack of nutrients Erosion, thin soils Over heating. Desert plants. Challenges for plant survival:

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Adaptations of Mojave Plants and Animals

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  1. Adaptations of Mojave Plants and Animals By Joanna Wang

  2. Challenges to survival in the Mojave • Water scarcity • Arid air • Winds evaporate little moisture present • little rain fall • Poor soils • Lack of nutrients • Erosion, thin soils • Over heating

  3. Desert plants • Challenges for plant survival: • Desiccation • Acquiring and storing water • Harsh sunlight • Types of plants: • Xerophytes • Phreatophytes • Perennials • Annuals and ephemerals

  4. Xerophytes • Survival Strategies • Few leaves to reduce transpiration • Leaves coated in tough, waxy layers to reduce transpiration • Fluttery leaves to promote cooling • Spongy, shallow roots that can absorb small amounts of water • Plant tissues that can store large amounts of water • Examples Creosote bush Joshua Tree

  5. Phreatophytes • Survival Strategies • Tap roots: extremely long roots up to 25 m • Examples • Mesquite tree (Prosopissp.) • creosote bush (Larrea tridentate)

  6. Perennials • Survival Strategies • Remains dormant during dry periods to conserve resources • Waxy coating to prevent water loss during dormancy • Grow leaves very quickly to photosynthesize during wetter periods • Examples Ocotillo Desert Lilly

  7. Annuals & Ephemerals • Survival Strategies • Germinate only after heavy rains and complete reproductive cycles very quickly • Drought resistant seeds that wait until next heavy rainfall • Examples Desert Sand Verbena Mojave Aster

  8. Animal Adaptations • Challenges: • Overheating • Obtaining water • Strategies: • Evaporative cooling • Avoid heat • Estivation • Specialized physiological structures • Obtaining water from food

  9. Avoiding the heat Owls Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard Chuckwalla Golden Eagle

  10. Estivation Spadefoot Toad Desert Tortoise

  11. Specialized Physiology - Large ears - Long legs • Pale colored fur and feathers

  12. Obtaining and Conserving Water Kangaroo rats Pocket mice

  13. Sources • http://mojavedesert.net/overview/a01.html • http://cat.bloctum.com/el7ciencies/files/2007/10/the-joshua-tree.jpg • http://www.desertusa.com/index.html • http://calflora.net/bloomingplants/images/desertlily10.jpg • http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/mojave_climate.htm

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