Ecosystems

The Desert Ecosystem

Andrew Christian

American Intercontinental University

SCIE210 Environmental Science

March 31, 2013

The Desert Ecosystem

Today, we are going to discuss a desert ecosystem. A desert ecosystem is not just a vast and dry area with no means of water or very little water. Some are hot and dry such as the Gobi desert, while others are cool high deserts such as the geographic area of southern California located to the northeast of the San Gabriel Mountains. One thing is common to all deserts; they have less than 10 inches of precipitation annually. All ecosystems have abiotic and biotic components that interact to provide the energy and material that is required for all organisms to live and survive.

Where might this type of ecosystem be located?

The Mojave Desert is located mainly in the Southern California area and in parts of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. It covers a total area of about 54,000 square miles. The Mojave River is the largest drainage system in the Mojave Desert and also a major water source for the desert. The Mojave Desert is best known for its summer heat with temperatures reaching as high as 119 degrees in August. According to blueplanetbiomes.org (n.d.), “the night temperatures in July and August can at times be in the low to mid 90s". There are also seasons of cold where the temperature can be as low as 8 degrees in the month of January. Contrary to popular belief, there can be snowfall in the region and can range from a trace to a foot.

Describe the structure of the ecosystem: List both the abiotic components and biotic components:

The structure of an ecosystem is obtained by the organization of the abiotic and biotic components of that particular ecosystem. Abiotic components are the non-living chemical and physical factors that can have effect on an ecosystem. Abiotic factors affecting the Mojave Desert include Rain, temperature, wind, soil, fault...