The Sonoran Desert
Located in Phoenix, Arizona
Average temperature
56.6° Fahrenheit to 84.6° F
Average Precipitation:
22cm per year
Average sunlight per day
11.1 hours
Rainy Seasons
Two rainy seasons: one in the summer and another in the winter
Common producers
Cactus- stores water in stem and uses water infrequently
Prickly pear- stores water inside of plant body
Phreatophytes- grows stems deep in ground to tap the ground water stored underground
These producers must be able to go long periods of time without precipitation and store water easily. They also must be able to make useful adaptations which can help them lengthen their life span.
56.6° Fahrenheit to 84.6° F
Average Precipitation:
22cm per year
Average sunlight per day
11.1 hours
Rainy Seasons
Two rainy seasons: one in the summer and another in the winter
Common producers
Cactus- stores water in stem and uses water infrequently
Prickly pear- stores water inside of plant body
Phreatophytes- grows stems deep in ground to tap the ground water stored underground
These producers must be able to go long periods of time without precipitation and store water easily. They also must be able to make useful adaptations which can help them lengthen their life span.
Common Herbivores:
Cottontail- Adapts to environment with ability to flee quickly
Mule Deer- Adapts to environment by eating a wide range of vegetation
Horned Lizards- Adapts to environment by using its horns to keep predators away
Cottontail- Adapts to environment with ability to flee quickly
Mule Deer- Adapts to environment by eating a wide range of vegetation
Horned Lizards- Adapts to environment by using its horns to keep predators away
Common Carnivores:
Rattle Snake- Adapts to environment by creating poisonous venom
Coyote- Adapts to environment by adjusting its diet to accommodate the food that is in the desert
Gila Monster- Adapts to environment by living in burrows underground so heat does not affect it
Rattle Snake- Adapts to environment by creating poisonous venom
Coyote- Adapts to environment by adjusting its diet to accommodate the food that is in the desert
Gila Monster- Adapts to environment by living in burrows underground so heat does not affect it
food chain
Sun --> Ocotillo --> Cotton Tail --> Rattle Snake
Abiotic Factors
Two major types of soil in the Sonoran Desert are Pleistocene and Holocene. The desert is mostly flat with occasional small hills. Earthquakes are rare as no fault lines pass through the desert although the dangerous San Andreas fault is just one state over. Throughout the desert there are few trees
Description of Biome
The Sonoran Desert is very hot, dry and is considered one of the wettest deserts. It can get windy which produces frequent sandstorms. It is located in both Phoenix, Arizona and Baja, California. Some plants can be poisonous but all producers must be able to adapt to the temperature and lack of water. Animals often hide out in places where the heat of the sun does not bother them and most are nocturnal, meaning they hunt at night.
Two major types of soil in the Sonoran Desert are Pleistocene and Holocene. The desert is mostly flat with occasional small hills. Earthquakes are rare as no fault lines pass through the desert although the dangerous San Andreas fault is just one state over. Throughout the desert there are few trees
Description of Biome
The Sonoran Desert is very hot, dry and is considered one of the wettest deserts. It can get windy which produces frequent sandstorms. It is located in both Phoenix, Arizona and Baja, California. Some plants can be poisonous but all producers must be able to adapt to the temperature and lack of water. Animals often hide out in places where the heat of the sun does not bother them and most are nocturnal, meaning they hunt at night.