Six Organism Descriptions and Adaptations
The Bobcat: The bobcat has an important role in the desert community as a predator and a scavenger. One adaptation of the bobcat is its sharp claws and teeth. These are necessary for survival in the desert biome because they help it be an efficient predator and catch its prey so it has food to eat when food becomes scarce.
The Rattlesnake: The rattlesnake plays an important role in the desert because it is an essential part of the food web. Without it, many animals would become too abundant and the whole ecosystem would be thrown off. One adaptation of the rattlesnake is that they have a heat sensing pit located behind each nostril that can detect differences in temperature. The heat given off by an animal is detected by the snake helping it figure out its predator from its prey helping it to become an efficient hunter in the desert where food can be hard to find.
The Cactus: The cactus plays an important role in the desert ecosystem because it is one of the few sources of food and water in the desert for many animals as well as a home for others. One adaptation of the cactus is that it can store lots of water in its stem, so on the few rainfalls the desert gets it can store up all the water it gets and use it later on during the long periods of no rainfall.
Desert Grass: Desert grass is important because it helps stabilize the sandy desert floor. One adaptation it has is in it's structure. It's structure has evolved to help maximize the amount of water it can take in which is extremely important in the desert where rain is very rare.
The Sonoran Bumblebee: The Sonoran Bumblebee plays an important role in the Sonoran desert because it helps pollinate the flowers on the cacti in the desert. They also burrow and live in holes in the ground and this helps plants get water to their roots because when it rains it just goes down the hole and right to the roots. One adaptation it has is that they have adapted to taking the nectar of the cactus which in turn helps keep them alive as well as the cactus.
The Flea: The flea is a nuisance to all the animals in the desert, and its only benefit to the ecosystem of the desert is that it provides food for small birds like the cactus wren and other species like scorpions. They have adapted to be able to not eat for months and still survive which in the desert where other animals are scarce, is a hugely important adaptation.
The Rattlesnake: The rattlesnake plays an important role in the desert because it is an essential part of the food web. Without it, many animals would become too abundant and the whole ecosystem would be thrown off. One adaptation of the rattlesnake is that they have a heat sensing pit located behind each nostril that can detect differences in temperature. The heat given off by an animal is detected by the snake helping it figure out its predator from its prey helping it to become an efficient hunter in the desert where food can be hard to find.
The Cactus: The cactus plays an important role in the desert ecosystem because it is one of the few sources of food and water in the desert for many animals as well as a home for others. One adaptation of the cactus is that it can store lots of water in its stem, so on the few rainfalls the desert gets it can store up all the water it gets and use it later on during the long periods of no rainfall.
Desert Grass: Desert grass is important because it helps stabilize the sandy desert floor. One adaptation it has is in it's structure. It's structure has evolved to help maximize the amount of water it can take in which is extremely important in the desert where rain is very rare.
The Sonoran Bumblebee: The Sonoran Bumblebee plays an important role in the Sonoran desert because it helps pollinate the flowers on the cacti in the desert. They also burrow and live in holes in the ground and this helps plants get water to their roots because when it rains it just goes down the hole and right to the roots. One adaptation it has is that they have adapted to taking the nectar of the cactus which in turn helps keep them alive as well as the cactus.
The Flea: The flea is a nuisance to all the animals in the desert, and its only benefit to the ecosystem of the desert is that it provides food for small birds like the cactus wren and other species like scorpions. They have adapted to be able to not eat for months and still survive which in the desert where other animals are scarce, is a hugely important adaptation.