Deserts are areas of the world with extreme climatic conditions. They offer harsh environments where life struggles to thrive. Therefore, many plants and animals must develop new adaptations to survive in these environments. Today we're going to talk about how plants survive in the desert. There are incredible adaptations that have allowed plants to thrive in these vast deserts.
In this article we are going to tell you how plants survive in the desert and what adaptations they need to do so.
Desert climate
In desert climates, evapotranspiration is the dominant process. This refers to the loss of moisture from the surface due to direct evaporation caused by solar radiation and rising temperatures. This is compounded by the minimal transpiration of water from plants. The phenomenon of evapotranspiration results in very low rainfall throughout the year, averaging around 250 mm annually . This is a very small amount, reflecting the lack of vegetation and humidity in the environment. One of the most well-known examples of a desert climate is the Sahara Desert, where the characteristics of deserts are readily apparent.
Desert climates are generally characterized by their location near the tropics. Most deserts are found between 15 and 35 degrees latitude. In this type of climate, evaporation exceeds precipitation. The rate of evaporation is higher than the rate of precipitation. This makes the soil unsuitable for plant life.
In areas of the Middle East they have an average of 20 centimeters of rain per year. However, the amount of evaporation exceeds 200 centimeters. This means that the evaporation rate is up to 10 times higher than the precipitation rate. Because of this, the humidity is very low.
How plants survive in the desert
Once we know what the characteristics of the desert climate are, we are going to see what series of adaptations the plants have had to generate to survive in these climates. Let's see what they are:
Greater water conservation
Plants that learn how to survive in the desert are better able to conserve water. We know that plants lose water through evapotranspiration. This process is the movement of water through the plant into the atmosphere. Plants with a larger surface area transpire more quickly and lose more water. They need as much water as possible to survive. Many arid plants have miniature leaves or spines that reduce their surface area to minimize water loss through evapotranspiration, as is the case with Sclerolaena, which exhibits interesting adaptations for survival.
The thorns not only reduce water loss but also help deter animals from eating the plant. Many animals in the desert rely solely on plants for water. One group of plants that uses this water conservation strategy is Sclerolaena.
Heat protection
Another strategy to learn how plants survive in the desert is protection against heat. We know that deserts have very high temperatures during the day and very low at night. Plants with green leaves can absorb heat. This makes them not every interesting in a desert. In a desert, absorbing heat is the last thing a plant wants. Therefore, another of the adaptations of these plants is to have the leaves with a gray, blue or a mixture of gray, blue and green color. This mix of colors helps reduce heat absorption. For example, a bush or bluish-gray can reduce the heat absorption of its leaves thanks to its bluish-gray color.
How plants survive in the desert: reproduction
Reproduction is another aspect to consider when it's too hot in a place. Humans tend to escape the heat by staying indoors. Many annual plant species do the same. There are several annual plants that complete their short life cycles during the rainy season . Their cycle consists of growing, producing seeds, and dying. The seeds remain dormant and are able to survive in dry environments. Examples of this can be found in the Atacama Desert, where sporadic rains allow for this phenomenon.
When the environmental conditions outside are favorable, the seeds finish and the plants can take advantage of those favorable humidity conditions. Normally during this time when they have more humidity is when in the desert you can see more plants.
Drought tolerance
Another of the adaptations that plants generate in the desert is tolerance to drought. During the summer months or prolonged dry spells, drought-tolerant plants tend to appear dead. They are plants that reduce their activity to a minimum. The most normal thing is that they look like simple plants like lack of leaves and without foliage that are dead. However, they are in a dormant state while waiting for the rain.
Finally, another adaptation that helps us understand how plants survive in the desert is their rate of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is simply the conversion of carbon dioxide, water, and solar energy into sugar and oxygen . Plants absorb carbon dioxide through their stomata. In hot weather, the stomata swell, and water evaporates, helping to reduce water loss. Conversely, in cold climates, the stomata remain open. The C4 pathway is what allows desert plants to absorb carbon dioxide without losing water. This involves a different structure within their cells that enables them to fix carbon dioxide even at very low water concentrations and high temperatures.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about how plants survive in the desert.