desert ecosystems are fragile for which of the following two reasons? course hero

by Emery Cummerata DVM 10 min read

Why is the desert ecosystem arid in nature?

So the desert ecosystem is arid in nature. Cactus are commonly found in this ecosystem as they can easily survive in this environment. Due to the lack of water, the population density in this ecosystem is very low. The soil of the desert ecosystem is not ideal for growing plants. So the amount of plants growing here is very low.

What are the abiotic components of a desert ecosystem?

The abiotic components of desert ecosystems are soil, high temperature, low rainfall, dry climate. These severely affect the desert ecosystem. 1. High temperature or low temperature

What are the challenges faced by the desert ecosystem?

Due to the rise in temperature, many plants and animals present in the desert ecosystem are facing challenges related to food and their survivability.

Why is the desert the driest place on Earth?

Desert is one of the most dried land areas on this planet that receives very little precipitation annually. It is a land with very less rainfall throughout the year measured less than 50 cm a year. Desert ecosystem is the driest ecosystem of the earth and this is the reason it has less vegetation and less diversity of life.

Why are deserts cool at night?

Deserts are commonly cool at night because desert soils have little vegetation or moisture to help store the heat.

How much of the Earth's land surface is covered by tropical rain forests?

Tropical rain forests cover only 2% of the earth's land surface but may contain at least half of the earth's known terrestrial plant and animal species.

How long does it take for desert soil to recover from off road vehicle use?

Desert ecosystem soils take decades to hundreds of years to recover from off-road vehicle use.

How much of the Earth's population lives in the mountains?

About 5% of the earth's population lives in the mountains or in the foothills. .

What type of forest is in the Great Lakes region?

A cool temperate deciduous forest has moved into the Great Lakes region.

Why is the desert ecosystem important?

This ecosystem plays an important role in maintaining the balance of the earth despite the low rainfall and dry climate. The importance of this ecosystem is discussed below.

What is the ecosystem of a desert?

Each desert has a specific ecosystem known as the desert ecosystem. An ecosystem is a close relationship between different organisms in a particular region and their surrounding physical and chemical environment.

What are desert ecosystems made of?

are cultivated in different places depending on the availability of water. Like other ecosystems, desert ecosystems are made up of some biotic and abiotic elements (2) & (4).

Why is the water crisis in the desert?

The water crisis occurs due to low rainfall in the desert ecosystem as a result there is a drought for half of the year.

What type of soil does a desert have?

Plants grow according to the type of soil. Desert soils do not have any organic matter like nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. which are essential for plant growth. In the desert ecosystem the soil is dry and the rocky, sandy. The soil is not ideal for plant growth. So big trees are not seen here.

How much rain does the desert receive?

The initial productivity of the desert ecosystem is very low. The desert receives less than 50 cm of rain each year. It can be both hot and cold and is a large barren abandoned and dry sand-covered area (1) & (5).

What are the abiotic components of desert ecosystems?

The abiotic components of desert ecosystems are soil, high temperature, low rainfall, dry climate. These severely affect the desert ecosystem.

Why is the desert ecosystem important?

It is also important as they act as carbon sink which means the bacteria in the sand helps to store the carbon dioxide and prevent it from entering into the atmosphere.

Why is the desert ecosystem the driest ecosystem in the world?

Desert ecosystem is the driest ecosystem of the earth and this is the reason it has less vegetation and less diversity of life. It is one of the parts of the terrestrial ecosystem. The plants and animals of the desert ecosystem have mastered the art of survival in harsh conditions.

What is a semi-arid desert ecosystem?

Semi-arid desert ecosystem-. This desert ecosystem is quite similar to the Hot and Dry desert ecosystem. This kind of ecosystem has hard rocks, stable ground, less sand dunes. Temperature is not as extreme as a hot and dry desert ecosystem. Great Basin is an example of Semi-arid desert ecosystem.

What is desert ecosystem?

In short desert ecosystem is the community of living and non-living organisms living together and interacting in an environment which seems to be abandoned. A Desert ecosystem is the interaction between both the Biotic and Abiotic components of the environment.

Why is the population density low in deserts?

The population density. Density Is very low in deserts and nearby areas as there is there a scarcity of water, food and climatic conditioner are too harsh. Plants grow very slowly. In this ecosystem that includes basically vegetation’s with spines like cacti that can easily survive in such conditions.

Why do deserts have sand dunes?

It tends to be very high in a desert ecosystem. This is the reason deserts experience sandstorms/ dust storms of high intensity resulting in the formation of huge sand dunes.

What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a community of all the living organism and non-living organisms interacting with each other in a specific area. Living organisms include all the organisms, plants and animals whereas non-living organisms include the physical environment that comprises air, water, sun, atmosphere, earth, climate etc.