subtropical desert

Examples of subtropical desert in the following topics:

• Subtropical Deserts and Chaparral

  • Subtropical deserts are characterized by their dry environments, while chaparrals are characterized by the presence of shrubs.
  • Subtropical deserts, which exist between 15° and 30° north and south latitude, are centered on the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
  • Subtropical hot deserts may have daytime soil surface temperatures above 60°C (140°F) and nighttime temperatures approaching 0°C (32°F).
  • Subtropical deserts are characterized by low annual precipitation of fewer than 30 cm (12 in), with little monthly variation and lack of predictability in rainfall.
  • There are several types of deserts including high-pressure deserts, mid-continent deserts, rain-shadow deserts, and upwelling deserts.

• Diversity of Gymnosperms

  • Because of their attractive shape, they are often used as ornamental plants in gardens in the tropics and subtropics.
  • In tropical and subtropical zones, gnetophytes are vines or small shrubs.
  • (c) The large Welwitschia mirabilis can be found in the Namibian desert.

• Modern Reptiles

  • Crocodilians live throughout the tropics and subtropics of Africa, South America, Southern Florida, Asia, and Australia.
  • Testudines include all shelled reptiles, such as the African spurred tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) that lives at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert.

• CAM and C4 Photosynthesis

  • Photosynthesis in desert plants has evolved adaptations that conserve water.
  • Desert plants have evolved processes to conserve water and deal with harsh conditions.
  • The harsh conditions of the desert have led plants like these cacti to evolve variations of the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis.

• Heat Conservation and Dissipation

  • For example, a desert ectothermic animal may simply seek cooler areas during the hottest part of the day in the desert to keep from becoming too warm.
  • The same animals may climb onto rocks to capture heat during a cold desert night.

• What constitutes a biome?

  • The major types of biomes include: aquatic, desert, forest, grassland, savannas, and tundra.
  • For example, an ecotone might be a transition region between a grassland and a desert, with species from both.

• Primates

  • They can be found in tropical or subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

• Bryophytes

  • More than 25,000 species of bryophytes thrive in mostly-damp habitats, although some live in deserts.

• Characteristics of the Animal Body

  • Animals' bodies are also designed to interact with their environments, whether in the deep sea, a rainforest canopy, or the desert.

• Biogeography

  • At about 30 degrees north, these forests would give way to deserts, which are characterized by low precipitation.
  • Moving farther north, you would see that deserts are replaced by grasslands or prairies.