Starter quiz
- What is a hot desert?
- A region that is hot and arid, with extremely low rainfall ✓
- A region that has high temperatures year-round and heavy seasonal rainfall
- A region with consistently warm temperatures, high humidity and dense forests
- A hot region near the Equator with frequent rain showers and lush vegetation
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- How much rainfall falls annually in hot desert environments?
- 0-249 mm ✓
- 250-499 mm
- 500-749 mm
- 750-999 mm
- 1000 mm+
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- Why is the soil store in hot deserts bigger than the biomass or litter stores?
- There isn’t much water to leach nutrients out of the soil ✓
- There aren’t many plants to take nutrients out of the soil store ✓
- Decomposition takes a long time in hot deserts ✓
- Desert soils are constantly enriched by nearby rivers and streams
- Plants constantly take up nutrients from the soil store
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- Match the keywords to their definitions.
- Hot deserts⇔hot areas experiencing low rainfall, generally below 250 mm per year ✓
- Biome⇔a global land area characterised by its plants, animals and climate ✓
- Biotic⇔the living elements of an ecosystem (e.g. plants, animals) ✓
- Abiotic⇔the non-living elements of an ecosystem (e.g. water, nutrients) ✓
- Interdependence⇔links between environmental components depending on one another ✓
- Where are hot deserts found?
- Between the tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and the tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S)
- Along the Equator (0°) only
- Between 15° and 30° north and south of the Equator ✓
- Mainly in South America
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- Urbanisation is a key factor in the decrease of biodiversity in hot desert environments. What does the term 'urbanisation' mean?
- The process of improving rural areas with better infrastructure and services
- The movement of people from cities to the countryside for a quieter lifestyle
- The growth in the percentage of people living in urban areas rather than rural ✓
- The expansion of agricultural land to support population growth
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Exit quiz
- Why do some desert plants have thick, waxy skin?
- To reduce water loss through transpiration ✓
- To increase water absorption from rainfall
- To attract pollinators
- To release heat during hot days
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- Match each adaptation with its purpose.
- Large ears⇔Helps release heat ✓
- Spines instead of leaves⇔Reduces water loss, provides protection ✓
- Wide feet⇔Helps reduce energy loss from moving in sand ✓
- Nocturnal behaviour⇔Avoids daytime heat ✓
- Which of the following is not a reason for low biodiversity in hot deserts?
- Limited rainfall
- High soil nutrient levels ✓
- Extreme temperature fluctuations
- Strong desert winds
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- Ephemeral ______ in hot deserts rapidly complete their life cycles during brief wet periods.
- 'plants' ✓
- Which of the following is a human threat to biodiversity in hot deserts?
- Frequent rainfall
- Soil erosion due to overgrazing ✓
- Low nutrient levels in the soil
- High temperature fluctuations
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- Which of the following is a characteristic of xerophytes?
- Growing quickly after rainfall and dying when water dries up
- Having broad leaves to increase photosynthesis
- Storing water in their stems, roots, or leaves ✓
- Releasing water during hot days
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Hot deserts are home to a variety of plants and animals.
- Plants in hot deserts are well adapted to the physical conditions.
- Animals in hot deserts are well adapted to the physical conditions.
- There are issues related to biodiversity in hot deserts.
Common misconception
A camel's hump stores water.
A camel's hump does not hold water at all – it actually stores fat. The camel uses it as nourishment when food is scarce. If a camel uses the fat inside the hump, the hump will become limp and droop, but with food and rest the hump will normalise.
Keywords
Adaptation - evolutionary changes that improve an organism’s chance of survival in its environment
Nocturnal - active at night and resting during the day
Biodiversity - the variety of different types of life found in a particular area
Ecosystem - a community of living organisms and their interactions with their environment
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