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The Desert Ecosystem: Types, Adaptation, Biodiversity & Resilience

The Desert Ecosystem: Types, Adaptation, Biodiversity & Resilience

 

Desert Ecosystem: Adapting Life to Arid Environments #

The desert ecosystem is a fascinating ecosystem where life has evolved to thrive under the most stringent water conservation and temperature regulation mechanisms, making it a unique and resilient biome. Despite the challenging conditions, it is home to a remarkable array of specially adapted plant and animal species. 

Desert ecosystem: A World of Unique Challenges and Adaptations #

  • Desert ecosystem is a biome or geographical region characterized by extremely arid conditions resulting in a scarcity of water resources. 
    • It has an extremely dry area of land with sparse vegetation.
  • Characteristics of Desert Ecosystem: 
  • Unique Biodiversity: They are home to a variety of specially adapted plant and animal species that have evolved to thrive in these challenging conditions.
  • Precipitation: It is a region of scanty rainfall. 
    • They are formed in regions with about less than 25 cm of annual rainfall. 
  • Coverage: Deserts cover about one-fifth of our planet.
  • High Diurnal Range: Deserts are known for their high temperatures during the day and cold temperature at night.
  • Sparse Vegetation: Desert environments are so dry that they support only extremely sparse vegetation and trees are usually absent.

 Types of Deserts: Hot and Cold Desert Ecosystem around the World

  • Hot Desert: The hot deserts of the world are formed due to the presence of dry air and low precipitation from subtropical high-pressure cells. 
  • Distribution: Western coasts of continents between 15 and 30 N and S (lie in the region of Horse latitudes). 
    • Found in tropical and subtropical regions, typically near the equator.
  • Examples: Includes the Sahara Desert in Africa, the Arabian Desert in the Middle East, and the Sonoran Desert in North America.
  • Abiotic components:
  • Long diurnal range: Extreme diurnal range of temperature. 
  • Very low precipitation: Less than 25 cm of annual rainfall.
  • Soil type: saline, sandy soil with low water holding capacity.
  • Biotic components:
    • Flora: Xerophytic or drought resistant scrub, date palms, acacia etc.
    • Fauna: Diverse array of reptiles, marsupials, mammals (camels, hedgehog, hyenas).
  • Cold/Mid-latitude/Temperate Desert: The large arid area of land that receives scanty annual precipitation, which occurs mainly in the form of snow or fog.
  • Generally, found at higher altitudes of temperate regions. 
  • Distribution: Located interior of the continent, sheltered by the high mountains all around them. 
    • Examples: Gobi Desert of Mongolia, Ladakh in India, Patagonia etc.
  • They are also found in the rain-shadow areas or the leeward side of mountain ranges.
    • Examples: Himalayas, Andes and Rockies.
  • Abiotic Components: 
    • Temperature: The annual range of temperature is much greater than that of the hot deserts. 
    • Continentality: it accounts for these extremes in temperature (Severe winter with cold wind).
  • Biotic components:
  • Flora: Alpine Mesophytic, Grasses, bushes, shrubs and even trees like junipers, birch. 
  • Fauna: Bactrian camel, Asiatic ibex, snow leopard, Tibetan wolf, Tibetan wild ass (kiang).

 Desert Ecosystem Existence in India – Exploring the Thar, Kutch, and Ladakh Regions

  • About: India has arid Thar Desert and salty Rann of Kutch in the west and the high-altitude deserts of Ladakh in the north.
  • Thar Desert (Great Indian Desert): It is located in northwestern India, primarily in the state of Rajasthan.
  • Characteristics: It is the largest desert in India, known for its vast stretches of arid land, sand dunes, and extreme temperatures.
  • Vegetation: The Thar Desert supports some hardy desert flora and is known for its distinctive thorny bushes and drought-resistant plants.
  • Kutch Desert ecosystem: The Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat in western India.
  • Characteristics: The Kutch Desert includes a seasonal salt marsh, known for its salt flats, arid landscapes, and the famous “White Rann” during the dry season.
  • Cold Desert ecosystem of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh: High-altitude desert regions in the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh region.
  • Characteristics: These deserts are characterized by high-altitude barren landscapes, with limited vegetation due to extreme cold and arid conditions.

Adaptation Mechanism in Desert Ecosystem: Survival Strategies #

  • It is essential for the survival of plant and animal species in these harsh, arid conditions of the Desert Ecosystem. 
  • These adaptation mechanisms allow organisms to conserve water, tolerate extreme temperatures, and make the most of limited resources.

   

Mechanism Description
Adaptations of Desert Vegetation
  • Extensive root system to tap underground water
  • Xerophytic adaptation of plants: (e.g cactus, calotropis):
    • Succulent and fleshy stem for storing water.
    • Stems covered with waxy coating or hairs.
    • Leaves are reduced to small scales and sometimes into spikes/thorns to minimize transpiration.
    • Waxy coatings on leaves and stems 
    • Sunken stomata

  • Phreatophyte adaptation of plants: e.g., Honey mesquite, Welwitschia
  • Phreatophytes’ deep root systems enable them to reach the water table during extended drought periods, ensuring a consistent water supply and eliminating the need for water storage.
  • Phreatophytes are signs of groundwater that is drinkable.
Adaptations of Desert Animals
  • Nocturnal by habit to avoid the heat of the sun.
  • They can survive for months without eating due to the fat they store in their humps.
  • Camel also known as “the ship of the desert” can travel several days without water (drink gallons of water at one go)
  • To save water, excrete concentrated urine.
  • The body may adjust its temperature to prevent perspiration and water loss.

 

Kangaroo Rat: 

  • The Kangaroo rat is an example of a xerocole (creature superbly adjusted to the desert environment.) 
  • Kangaroo rats can thrive in arid conditions without ever needing to drink water. 
  • It derives the necessary moisture from the seeds. 
  • Key stone species: Kangaroo rats have a significant role within the ecological communities they inhabit. 
    • They play a crucial part in shaping their environment by consuming and dispersing seeds and excavating burrows in the soil. 
    • These actions contribute to the overall well-being and vitality of their desert ecosystem.

About keystone species: 

  • A keystone species is a species that exerts a significant impact on its natural environment compared to its numerical abundance.
  • Every ecosystem has specific species that are indispensable for the survival of other organisms within that ecosystem.

 

Desert Ecosystems: The Resilient World

  • The desert ecosystem is a resilient biome characterized by extreme aridity and harsh environmental conditions.
    • These ecosystems play a vital role in global climate regulation and contribute to our understanding of adaptation and biodiversity.

 

Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Q. Which of the following leaf modifications occur(s) in the desert areas to inhibit water loss? (2018) 

  • Hard and waxy leaves 
  • Tiny leaves 
  • Thorns instead of leaves 

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 

  1. 2 and 3 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer (D)

 

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

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 Final Result – CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2023.   Udaan-Prelims Wallah ( Static ) booklets 2024 released both in english and hindi : Download from Here!     Download UPSC Mains 2023 Question Papers PDF  Free Initiative links -1) Download Prahaar 3.0 for Mains Current Affairs PDF both in English and Hindi 2) Daily Main Answer Writing  , 3) Daily Current Affairs , Editorial Analysis and quiz ,  4) PDF Downloads  UPSC Prelims 2023 Trend Analysis cut-off and answer key

Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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