AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -This biome has a layer of soil that can either be sandy, gravelly, or stony, depending on the type of desert. Deserts usually get at most 50 centimeters (20 inches) of rainfall a year, and the organisms that live in deserts are adapted to this extremely dry climate. Plants in deserts have adaptations to conserve water.

Detailed explanation-2: -One of the biggest water retention adaptations desert animals have is simply to avoid the sun and extreme heat. Water is used up in the cooling process, and can quickly dehydrate even the most water retentive animal, so most desert animals have adapted their behavior to avoid getting too hot.

Detailed explanation-3: -Most of the animals who live in the desert are insects, scorpions, reptiles and spiders. Most of the mammals who live in the desert are very small, but large mamals like camels, gazelles and donkeys have adapted to deal with the very dry conditions and can survive for long periods of time without water.

Detailed explanation-4: -Animals survive in deserts by living underground or resting in burrows during the heat of the day. Some creatures get the moisture they need from their food, so they don’t need to drink much water, if any. Others live along the edges of deserts, where there are more plants and shelter.

Detailed explanation-5: -Desert biomes are the driest of all the biomes. In fact, the most important characteristic of a desert is that it receives very little rainfall. Most deserts receive less than 300 mm a year compared to rainforests, which receive over 2, 000 mm.