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1st 2nd 3rd DESCRIBTION
B W ARID DESERT

S EPPE

H HOT

K COLD
N MILD

ANIMAL ADAPTATION

High temperatures are really only present
during the day when the sun is high in the sky.
Therefore, it may be in an animal's best
interest to adjust the time it is active around
Other animals have physical adaptations that allow the body to dissipate more body heat. For example, long the placement of the sun. Many organisms
limbs and larger ears (like with a desert hare) provide more surface area for heat to radiate from the body. are either nocturnal, meaning they're only
Other animals, like the camel, store fat in one particular area (such as their hump), providing surface area to active at night, or crepuscular, meaning
dissipate heat. Many animals are also light in color. This has two advantages: first, the pale color helps them they're only active at dawn and dusk. This
blend in with the desert's surroundings to camouflage them from predators; and second, it prevents them strategy prevents the animals from being
from absorbing heat from the sun in the way an animal with dark skin or fur would. active during the warmest part of the day.
PLANT ADAPTATION

Most desert plant species are called
xerophytes because they have in some way
changed their physical structure to tolerate
extremely hot and dry conditions. The
morphological, physiological, and behavioral
Desert plant species are generally classified as drought-escaping plants, drought-evading plants, drought- adaptations that desert plants have formed
enduring plants, or drought-resisting plants. Each of these classifications consists of unique adaptions that over time enable them to survive the harsh
allow these plant species to survive and, in some cases, thrive in desert ecosystems. Of course droughts aren't conditions common in arid environments.
the only issue facing desert plant species: constant heat stress, and poor soil quality create additional
challenges for desert plant communities.

ARID ANIMAL & PLANT ADAPTATION
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