Question

Write a short note on the adaptations of desert plants and animals.

Answer 1

Desert ecosystem is a dry and arid environment. So, the animals and plants adapt to the dry conditions by developing water storage methods or condition themselves to be accustomed to the scarcity of water. They are also adapted to the sandy environment.

Complete answer:
In the deserts, the plants are of a succulent type and store water in fleshy leaves, roots, and stems. The root system is also highly developed for the absorption of water. In these plants, the stem performs photosynthesis too. They usually have a thick cuticle on the stems and leaves which protect the plant from excessive moisture loss through transpiration. Desert plants follow the CAM pathway rather than the normal C3 or C4 pathway which also helps to prevent excessive water loss.
In the deserts, animals show a huge number of adaptations. Reptiles like snakes come in the open environment only at dawn or dusk. Small desert animals dig and live in burrows to escape the heat. Animals such as camels have developed the mechanism to store fat in their hump, which helps them survive for a long time without food and water. There are certain mammalian species that can survive in the desert for days without drinking water, as they have developed the mechanism to use metabolic water.

Note:
Apart from the adaptations to dry conditions of the desert and water scarcity, camels also have a well-developed nictitating membrane which is vestigial in humans. It is a third eyelid that is transparent that helps to keep out sand and dust.