AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The main characteristic of deserts is a shortage (or complete lack of) precipitation; some desert regions go for years on end without rain. Other characteristics of deserts include extremes of temperature and very little plant growth. The desert biome consists of species able to live in these inhospitable conditions.

Detailed explanation-2: -Desert Biomes The climate of deserts is dominated by low precipitation, generally below 250 mm yr-1 (Figure 7).

Detailed explanation-3: -The desert and the nonforest biome (tundra) are the two biomes that receive the least amount of rainfall during the year. The tundra receives very little precipitation about 6-10 inches annually, mostly in the form of snow, and the desert receives less than 9.9 inches per year.

Detailed explanation-4: -Desert Biome A desert is defined simply by the amount of rainfall that falls in an area in conjunction with the amount of evaporation. In essence, it’s any area that receives on average less than 10 inches of rainfall per year, and where the yearly evaporation is more than 10 inches of rain a year.

Detailed explanation-5: -These plants include: yuccas, ocotillo, turpentine bush, prickly pears, false mesquite, sotol, ephedras, agaves and brittlebush. The animals include small nocturnal (active at night) carnivores. The dominant animals are burrowers and kangaroo rats. There are also insects, arachnids, reptiles and birds.