While one might ask how water erosion can be so prevalent in the desert, it is important to note that like many Australian deserts, the area receives a surprisingly high amount of rain, about 200-250 millimeters a year. ("Ayers Rock Facts," 2009) It is believed that the mountain chains that once included Ayers Rock were as large as the surrounding peaks. Now, there is just one remaining piece of this long lost chain. Wind and water took an enormous toll on the surface of the area. When one considers other major mountain chains, and is informed that they were once much larger, it is hard to grasp the concept due to the fact that the mountains still exist, and are fairly large in their current state.
They were overhunted in the 18th and 19th centuries and their population dropped from 300,000 worldwide to only a few thousand in Alaska. (Cohn, 1998) The 1911 International Fur Seal Treaty saved the otters and other marine mammals from extinction. (Bodkin 2002) The sea otter population is very important to many parts of the ocean’s ecosystem because they help keep sea urchin populations at a safe level. Too many sea urchins mean decreased kelp beds. Beyond the overhunting, there are many other threats to the sea otter population.
The petite delta smelt has proven as a significant species indicator as to the environmental conditions in the San Francisco Bay-Delta, an imperative ecological estuary that serves as a central aspect to the utility of California’s water system. This endangered species only measures an approximate 5 to 7 cm in length and primarily inhabits northern California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin estuary. The life cycle of the smelt does not commonly exceed one-year, reflective of their fairly low fecundity. This fish species is highly affected by environmental changes within its native habitat. Fluctuating conditions of their habitat has led to a massive population decline.
Firstly, the Everglades are an important ecosystem which reduces flooding and replenish aquifers but human actions are having a huge impact on the landscape. The rapid urban and agricultural development in the area has decreased the size of the wetlands dramatically which affects the organisms found there. This is especially important as it is home to several endangered species. Not only that, but invasive species that threaten existing wildlife by preying on or competing with them. According to Everglades.org, they’ve “contributed to nearly 70 percent of extinctions in the United States” and are the “primary cause of species endangerment.” The water itself is a major cause of decline to the area, firstly because of poor water management leading to water levels being too low or too high at the wrong times has caused a decline in many species.
Nile river- world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean sahara desert -A vast desert in North Africa that covers an area of about 3,500,000 square miles (9,065,000 sq km). Aquifers- A body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater. Niger delta-the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers desertification- The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. Aswan high dam- one of the world's largest dams on the Nile River in southern Egypt carthage-An ancient city on the coast of North Africa near present-day Tunis. It fought with Rome during the Punic Wars and was finally destroyed... black gold-
The location stands at the approximate elevation of 6,200 feet. Chaco is a high desert that is very sun scorched in the summer and can be very unforgiving in the winter. Despite the very harsh surroundings but they have been very good promising break trough’s of evidence of human presence in the area stretches back to as early as 2900 BC. These groups were largely nomadic until up and around AD 200
Big Bend Country is also known as the Trans-Pecos. It covers the extreme western part of the state east to the Pecos River. The different soils and elevations in this region support diverse habitats and vegetation, from desert valleys and plateaus to wooded mountain slopes. Mountain outwash materials formed the soils of the Trans-Pecos. Surface textures vary.
* Madagascar and the Indian Ocean were once a place of high plant and animal diversity and population however, in the last 1500 years people have come into this untouched environment impacting these species due to their lack of knowledge on human involvement. 3. Choose five examples from the passage and explain why each would be of interest to conservationist. * About 150 species of birds are only found on these islands
| | Sudan | | | Libya | | | Somalia | | | Egypt | Question 9 What is the desertification of the Sahara? | | The expansion of the Sahara desert. | | | The study of the Sahara desert. | | | The shrinking of the Sahara desert. | | | The population of the Sahara desert.
Organism Physiology Paper: Rattle Snake April 16, 2012 The desert biome offers a unique ecosystem where organism must become accustomed to extreme temperatures ranging from the high 120 degrees in the summer to below 30 degrees in the winter. On top of extreme temperatures, organisms who live in this environment must also deal with dryness or low rainfall. Therefore, animals living in this ecosystem must adapt to withstanding very hot and very cold weather as well as surviving on the small food supply available in this environment. A prime example of this ecosystem is the Southwestern Desert. So what types of animals could possibly survive these harsh climate changes?