Question

Desert animals come out only during the ……. when it is cooler.
A. Day
B. Night
C. Afternoon
D. None of these

Answer 1

As we know an ecosystem is a chain of interaction between organisms and their respective environment. Desserts are also a part of the ecosystem which are found throughout the world and these are regions with very little rainfall. The temperatures in these areas are usually at extremities meaning day times are extremely hot and night is marked by extreme cold.

Complete Answer:
Not all the deserts have extreme climates, some deserts are windy too. The annual precipitation in the desert is very less, making water a valuable resource. As the temperatures are high, which range from freezing to other extremes, maintaining a safe body temperature is a constant challenge for animals. An organism's water demand increases as temperature rises. So, desert animals have developed many adaptive strategies like they usually come out at night when the desert is cooler for coping with temperature extremes and limited water. They are called nocturnal animals. For example, a javelina is only active during the day in winter but not in the summer. Even day-active birds are most active when the temperature goes down. Many mammals, such as ringtails or kangaroo rats, are also active during these times. Gerbils spend the day in cool underground burrows to avoid the heat and darkling beetles are experts at catching drops of moisture on their legs, then lifting them into the air until the drops trickle down into their mouths. This ecosystem exists from the Arctic to the tropics.

So, the correct answer is Option B.

Note:
Another strategy used by animals is to seek out a cool microclimate. Some mammals like a white-throated woodrat create their own microclimates like a small den where the temperature is moderate or tolerable. Most small mammals dig burrows in the desert soil to save themselves from the extreme temperature. Large mammals do not burrow to escape the desert heat as their body gets heated up very slowly and they take shady places during those times during day time.