Desert ecology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In ecology, desert ecology is the sum of the interactions between both biotic and abiotic factors of the desert biomes.

The biotic factors of desert ecology include the interactions of plant, animal, and bacterial populations in a desert community. Some of the abiotic factors also include latitude and longitude, soil, and climate. Each of these factors have caused adaptations to the particular environment of the region.

Deserts are most notable for their dry climates resulting from rain-blocking mountain ranges and remoteness from oceanic moisture. Deserts occupy one-fifth of the Earth's land surface and occur in two belts: between 15° and 35° latitude in both the southern and northern hemispheres.^[1]

Deserts support diverse communities of plant and animals that have evolved resistance to and methods of circumventing the extreme temperatures and arid conditions. Desert ecology is characterized by dry, alkaline soils, low net production and opportunistic feeding patterns by herbivores and carnivores. Lichens and blue-green algae are significant primary producers in the desert. The detrital food chain is less important in desert ecology than in the ecology of other regions.