What adaptation allows plants to live in the desert?

Answer 1

Leaves that hold water

Answer 2

They have very long roots and the roots spread over a large area preferably just beneath the desert surface to collcet and store as much water a possible. Some roots extend deep into the Earth to collect water that seeps through the soil quickly in some places. Cactuses have spikes, which are actually leaves. To prevent water from escaping quickly, the photosynthesis is carried out by the stem of the plant. During respiration, water vapour is being given out. If there are leaves, the water would be lost very quickly as there are many leaves and it covers a larger surface area compared to the tiny spikes.

Answer 3

In generals, water conservation in the body is key. Also, thermoregulation. Many animals have many ways of doing this. Scorpions, for example, have an impermeable exoskeleton, so water cannot escape from it very easily. They also burrow under ground where it can be several degrees cooler within inches of the hot surface.

Something like the camel has different mechanisms, but achieves the same outcome. Just about every bit of water is extracted from their food and stored in their cells. Camels can tolerate a very large change in the water content in their blood. We humans cannot do this. If our blood has too little water in it, we can easily die from hyperthermia.

Now, about that hump. Fat cells are more expandable, and can store more water, however the camel can't just store fat all over it's body as this will cause the animal to over heat. Fat happens to be a good insulator, just look at whales! This is why the camel stores it's fat on it's back. It insulates the top of the camel from the heat of the sun, but doesn't insulate it's entire body, allowing excessive heat to escape. Camels also have what's known as a pedestal on their chest that keeps their bodies elevated off the hot sand when they lie down.

Depending on the animal, the specific adaptations will be different, but the requirements stay the same: stay hydrated, stay thermoregulated.

Answer 4

The plants that grow in the Sahara desert are able to hold water like cactuseee of are plants that don't need much water that is why not many plants grow in the Sahara desert

The plants that grow in the Sahara desert are able to hold water like cactuses orr go long periods with out water that is why so little plant grow in the Sahara desert

The plants that grow in the Sahara desert are able to hold water like cactuses orr go long periods with out water that is why so little plant grow in the Sahara desert

longer life cycles.... study island

Answer 5

take cacti for instance, their adaptation is to have needles growing out of them. before that adaptation, rabbits would bite into them and suck out their water until they died, so this kept that from happening.

Answer 6

they have adapted to the droughts of the desert, being dry in the desert. and the heat in the desert.

Answer 7

plants need sun light and water but not all need the same amount