Cold Desert

By: Neil Balasekaran

DescriptionCovered by sand, gravel and clay, the Cold Desert is located in the western United States(Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon). The Cold Desert has mountainous areas with many basins. Very few plant species grow there. In the winter the temperatures range to -2 degrees Celsius to -4 degrees Celsius. In the summer the temperatures range to 21 degrees Celsius to 26 degrees Celsius. It rains about 15 to 16cm a year and snows.

Animal and Plant Species

Pronghorn antelopes, jack rabbits, bighorn sheep, coyotes, kangaroo rats, side blotched lizards and pygmy rabbits are animal species in the Cold Desert.

Mojave Aster, sagebrush, greasewood, shadescale, winterfat, fourwing saltbrush, and Utah juniper are types of plant species in the Cold Desert.

Animal and Plant Pictures

Abiotic Factors

The large amount of snow helps plants because when the snow melts it helps the plants achieve water.

The mountain can provide cover for animals and shade for plants.

The mountains and grass can provide camouflage for animals.

Sources

http://www.mbgnet.net/http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htmhttp://www.nps.gov/grba/index.htm