Climate of the Sahara Desert
Average rainfall: Less than 10 inches per year
Average Temperature: 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit (gets very cold at night)
Seasons: Winter and Summer (both extremely hot and extremely dry)
Net Primary Productivity
Deserts have very low Net Primary Productivity. It gets less than 10 inches of rainfall per year. Most deserts are found at a latitude of 30 degrees. Diversity is high, especially among reptilians.
Soil Quality
Most deserts are not very fertile, and receive very little rainfall so it's hard for plants to survive. However, plants that don't require much water to survive can thrive in the desert.
Invasive and Indangered
Tamarisk Plant - Invasive. Native to Eurasia. Accident. Tamarisk plants steal the groundwater away from the other plants, effectively killing them.
Saharan Cheetah - Endangered. It used to be found in the Saharan Desert. It is endangered because of poaching, and it only has 250 members of it's kind left. Loss of habitat due to humans has driven it to extinction as well.
Animals in the Desert Biome
Desert Foxes - The ears of the Desert Foxes help them dissipate heat. It feeds on birds, insects, and rodents. The color of the foxes essentially camouflages them in the desert.
Gazelles - Certain species in the Sahara can go without drinking water in their entire lifetime. Their coats are a pale color, which reflects the hot Saharan sun.
Saharan Silver Ants - These ants are unique to the Sahara. They only remain active for 10 minutes per day. They produce heat shock proteins which help them survive in the heat.
Plants in the Desert Biome
Olive trees - have small leaves that have a protective coating - this slows water loss.
Palm Trees - Grow in areas were the water is close to the surface. They grow strategically to get as much water as they can.
African Peyote Cactus - These cacti thrive due to their thick stems that retain water well. The spiny leaves help prevent water loss.
Credits:
Created with images by valli_mark - "palm trees"