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Desert and Desert-Scrub Biomes Answers

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Transpiration is best described as _______.

water evaporation through pores in leaves

water evaporation through roots

water absorption through pores in leaves

water absorption through roots

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The whip tail of a Vinegaroon is a mimic for a scorpion’s pincher claws.

The defining characteristic of deserts is _______.

low rainfall

high temperatures

lizards

cacti

Which behavior would you most likely expect to find in a desert animal?

grooming others of their species

giving birth under tree shelter

eating in large groups

sleeping during the day

Which of the following is not true about arid deserts?

They can be found in North America.

The rain falls mostly as snow during the winter.

They are very hot and dry.

The rain often evaporates before it hits the ground.

During extreme dry periods tortoises will eliminate waste _______.

as a watery urine

as a white paste

only at night

only in the morning

All deserts have high daytime temperatures.

Organisms that live in desert and desert-scrub biomes have developed unique adaptations that aid in their survival. The Sahara Desert takes up ten percent of the continent of Africa, and is the largest desert in the world. The species that live in the Sahara are highly adapted to survive in the extreme conditions they live in. What morphological and physiological adaptations might be seen in the organisms that live in the Sahara Desert?

water absorbing skin, large eyes for hunting at night, webbed feet

light colored fur or feathers for camouflage, dense layer of fat and fur for warmth, hibernation during cold months

small bodies and long limbs in warm-blooded organisms, light colored fur or feathers to reflect sunlight, lack of sweat glands in many organisms, hibernation during hot months

dark colored fur or feathers for heat absorption, large bodies and short limbs, consumption of primarily scrub and short grasses

What abiotic factors describe the desert biome climate?

four distinct seasons, a temperature range from just below freezing to 70º F, almost 14 inches of rain in the winter months and more than 18 inches of rain in the summer

warm temperature year round, very long dry winter and a very wet summer, a temperature range of 68° to 86° F, annual precipitation of 10 to 30 inches

subarctic and cold climate, long, severe winters, average yearly rainfall is 15 to 20 inches

extremely low humidity, less than 10 inches of rain per year, high temperatures during the day, frequently windy

Desert plants are often widely spaced due to competition for rainwater.

Camel humps are an adaptation for _______.

storing water

regulating body heat

carrying riders

all of the above

The Sahara desert is able to support large populations of grazing herbivores.

Desert animals would generally be expected to have less body fat than animals in cooler environments.

What are some adaptations of the kangaroo rat that allow it to survive in the desert biome?

builds underground burrows, hunts at night, obtains water from its food

builds nests inside trunks of large plants, hunts during daylight hours, obtains water from its food

builds underground burrows, hunts at night, requires a water source for drinking

builds exposed nests under brush and scrub, hunts at night, obtains water from its food

Desert and desert-scrub biomes are characterized by specific types of plant and animal life. Creosote bushes are found throughout areas such as the Mojave Desert. They are used by roadrunners for nesting, and also provide a home for desert tortoises. Photo by Samulili What type of plant is the creosote bush?

coniferous tree

lichen

shrub

flowering weed

Which of the following deserts is characterized by moderately warm to cool temperatures?

arid

semi-arid

coastal

cold