The common characteristic of all deserts is
hot temperature
low annual rainfall
simple ecosystem
mineral-poor soil
The rainshadow effect causes
desertification
leaching
natural desert formation
increased precipitation
The main difference between deserts and the tundra is
amount of precipitation
moisture content of the air
limited topsoil
temperature
Leaching
is common is desert climates
increases the mineral content of the soil
is unrelated to the amount of rainfall
washes minerals from the topsoil
Desertification is caused by
human activity
solar heating patterns
leaching of the soil
temperature variation
Adaptations to desert life do not include
long limbs and ears
a waterproof covering
a large, compact body
an ability to store water
The spines of a desert plant
provide protection
increase surface area
store water
are unique to the cacti of the Western Hemisphere
The limiting factor in the tundra is
rainfall
sunlight
soil nutrients
Migratory birds in the tundra feed mostly on
seeds
small rodents
lichens
flies and mosquitoes
Tundra ecosystems are considered to be fragile because of
the low humidity
low biodiversity
low economic value
low latitude
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline was built above ground to prevent
the migration of caribou and other animals
damage to the fragile tundra topsoil
melting of the permafrost
tourists and other travelers from crossing
Compared to the desert fennec fox, you might expect the Arctic fox to have
longer legs
shorter ears
shorter fur
larger eyes
