Starter Q: How can I survive here?

Tropical Deserts

Large Leaf Surface Area Plants need to capture as much sunlight as possible, therefore large leaf surface area enables it to do so.

If you planted a Kapok Tree in the Desert it would die!!!

Extremely Tall

The height of the tree enables it to capture as much of the suns energy as possible

Thin Bark Drip Tip Leaves Plants need to dispose of water as quickly as possible so that mould or bacteria cannot form on their leaves in the hot and humid atmosphere. Plants transpire just like humans to release hot water vapour. Thin bark enables it to do this.

Buttress Roots Soil is thin in the rainforest, so the extremely tall trees need to stabilise and have an enormously thick stem to enable them to stay upright.

So you know about deserts?

Tropical Desert Characteristics

Example of an extreme environment High day time temps averaging 40C in summer, 25C in winter. Tropical deserts generally occur in bands around Earth around to tropics of Cancer and Capricorn 23 N and S. Sparse (vertically challenged!) vegetation. High pressure, dry descending air.

Factors creating Deserts

Word Wall:

Latitude?
Air behaviour or pressure? Sun energy (insolation)? Precipitation?

TASK:

Annotate this typical desert scene how do these plants survive? Youve got clues from the sort exercise and the design a plant characteristic list. Why do these plants have the features they have? Examiners tip: not all features apply to all plants identify characteristics of different plants in the photo

If youre struggling, check out Pg65 with the adaptations of Xerophytic plants.

Xerophytic Plants
A xerophyte or xerophytic organism (xero meaning dry, phyte meaning plant) is a plant which is able to survive in an environment with little available water or moisture, usually in environments where potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation for all or part of the growing season. Plants like the cacti and other succulents are typically found in deserts where low rainfall amounts are the norm. POSSIBLE ADAPTATIONS:
Shallow, broad roots to catch infrequent rains. Deep roots to tap into deep ground water. Thick waxy cuticle to retain water, reducing transpiration. Thorns/needles (anti-predation). Some needles are actually leaves! Stores water in trunk (can swell up). Tolerance to salt (Date Palm) Rapid flowering response. Seeds can remain dormant for years. Quick life/reproductive cycle.

Tiny Hairs on Plant Less Surface Area Reduces the plants exposure to the warm air, reducing the chance of water evaporating from the plant.

Xerophytes

Provides the plant with a wind break which reduces air flow around the plant, reducing the chance of potential water evaporation.

Deep Root System Colour of Plant/Hairs Many Xerophytes are light in colour in order to reflect sunlight which reduces the risk of water evaporation. Roots go right down to the water table to provide the maximum possible chance of water uptake.

Swollen Trunk/Leaves/Roots Enables water storage which helps the plants survive prolonged dry periods.

QUICK QUIZ - Say what you see!

Aloe Cacti and Mediterranean Scrub vegetation Algarve, southern Portugal.

(not far from the Sahara Desert and much like it in summer time!)

Setting up your homework: Are there Economic Development opportunities in Hot Deserts?
Deserts offer prime opportunity for development in many ways. Can be exploited as they are not in the fore-front of peoples minds Development contrasted drastically between LEDCs and MEDCs.

TASK:
Read through the statements on the sheet. Which ones do you think apply to LEDCs, MEDCs or both. Use a three colour or symbol key to show this. Think back to other topics you have covered what are the main issued faced by LEDCs? This will help you.