Hot Desert Biodiversity Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

True or false? Hot deserts have high biodiversity because the climate is warm all year.

False. Hot deserts have very little biodiversity because of the harsh climate — extreme heat and lack of water.

Why is hot desert biodiversity described as fragile?

Species are specialised and food chains are short, so small changes such as water extraction or overgrazing can wipe them out.

What type of plant growth follows rainfall in a hot desert, and what does it mean for biodiversity?

Seeds germinate and plants flower briefly, so biodiversity is seasonal and appears only after rain.

Where is biodiversity highest in a hot desert, and why is it under threat there?

Around water sources and on the desert margins; people also settle and farm in these places, so habitats are damaged and water is used up.

How could global warming affect biodiversity in hot deserts?

Deserts may become even hotter and drier, so species already living at the limit of what they can survive could die out.