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Deserts can be hot or cold so the main reason they occur is aridity, or lack of rainfall/snowfall. Antarctica is a cold desert, the Sahara is a hot desert (at least by day). Deserts in the American Southwest are mostly caused by topography--the Sierra Nevada mountains that cut off rain clouds from heading inland (most of the time). Deserts can also be caused by cold ocean currents that run along land such as in western Mexico, Chile, Peru, etc. The Sahara was mostly caused by a tilt in the Earth's axis that put it in a high pressure zone, it used to be a green savanna with flowing rivers several thousand years ago. Some deserts get monsoons, or torrential sudden rains that are tropical, this occurs in the American Southwest as well as parts of India where it can be dry the rest of the year. Other deserts such as the high altitude Atacama desert in Chile receives essential no rainfall...some areas along the coast get fog or mist and certain cacti and mosses or lichens will grow there and sustain animal life. Because of the lack of moisture in the air, temperature extremes can occur with daytime temperatures getting quite hot and nighttime quite cold, even down to freezing temperatures depending on the region. In the American Southwest, the deserts actually receive a decent amount of rain, but it usually comes during the summer and is sporadic, plants have to adapt by storing water or growing and reproducing quickly such as occurs with desert wild flowers and grasses there. Cacti either absorb the water and "plump" up and/or grow leaves, flowers,fruit/seeds and lose them when it dries out again.

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11y ago
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13y ago
  1. Arid Environment
    • Lack of water prevents a desert from supporting much plant and animal life, although some species thrive in this environment. Burgeoning human populations on the edges of the desert strain the water supply, which affects the already sparse flora and fauna.

    Desertification
    • Desertification is the process in which once usable land becomes inhospitable and loses its ability to sustain life, essentially becoming unusable. Desertification is growing due to misuse of land resources, such as over-farming and over-grazing.

    Human Activity
    • Though droughts trigger desertification, human activity is the largest cause, reports the United Nations. Over-cultivation, poorly drained irrigation systems, mismanagement of available water, digging for fossil fuels and introduction of invasive species are only some of the environmental problems in desert biomes created by humans.

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13y ago

polllution affects habitats because some animals can confuse them for food and culd die, and also some pollution can not break down, which makes matters worse

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9y ago

Pollution affects the desert biome in various ways. This will affect the plants and animals in the desert when processes like drilling wells are done.

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14y ago

it kills animals trees all different things.

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9y ago

Desertification causes water scarcity. No water comes by the process of water cycle in such areas.

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15y ago

Same as all the other ones...

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10y ago

hey

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Q: How does the nitrogen cycle effect the desert ecosystem?
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Related questions

Which cycle recycles matter through an ecosystem?

the water cycle, nitrogen cycle, and the carbon cycle.


Describe why nitrogen must cycle through an ecosystem?

Nitrogen must be cycled through an ecosystem so that the nitrogen is available for organisms to make proteins.


Can the nitrogen cycle run off from a terrestrial to an aquatic ecosystem and enrich the aquatic ecosystem?

Yes it can.


What are the three nutrient cycles that play especially prominent roles?

The three nutrients cycle that plays a big part in our ecosystem are carbon cycles, nitrogen cycles and phosphorus cycles. These three are essential to sustain life and balance in our ecosystem.


Why must nitrogen cycle through an ecosystem?

Because then the organisms can make protein >_<


What would be the impact on the nitrogen cycle if there were decrease in decomposition in a given ecosystem?

The impact on the nitrogen cycle if there were a decrease in decomposition in a given ecosystem wouldn't be enough nitrogen to return the atmosphere. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide into energy rich carbon compound.


What would be the impact on the nitrogen cycle if there were a decrease in decomposition in the given ecosystem?

The impact on the nitrogen cycle if there were a decrease in decomposition in a given ecosystem wouldn't be enough nitrogen to return the atmosphere. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide into energy rich carbon compound.


How do nitrogen fixing bacteria help cycle nitrogen through ecosystem?

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria help cycle nitrogen through the ecosystems in a variety of ways. With plants, the nitrogen-fixing bacteria help ensure that nitrogen is cycled back into the soil.


Why is it important for nitrogen to be recycled in an ecosystem?

Nitrogen is one of the elements present in nitrates which is a mineral that plants need for growth. Nitrogen fixing soil bacteria take the nitrogen from the air and change it into ammonium, and then further changed by nitrifying bacteria into nitrates. these nitrates are then taken up by the plants.


What is the importance of the carbon and nitrogen cycle to ecosystem?

They provide materials organisms need to build their bodies.


How is nitrogen recycled in the environment?

the nitrogen cycle is the pathway that nitrogen follows through an ecosystem. or something with decaying animals putting nutrients back into the soil.


How does nitrogen cycle through ecosystem?

The major elements cycled in nature are carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, and oxygen which forms part of all the cycles.