Desert
Biome Project
Exploring the Sahara Desert, Morocco - Lonely Planet travel video
Map of World's Deserts
Though very beautiful, the desert has many limiting factors. Firstly, most deserts have very hot days and cold nights, making for an inconsistent climate for different species. Secondly, it is very dry and often in a state of drought. Disease outbreak is also a large limiting factor. These factors get in the way of plants growing, species surviving, and create a simple ecosystem.
Abiotic Factors
Abiotic Factors are the non-living parts of a biome that affect the organisms who live there.
Precipitation, water availability, sunlight, and temperature are all abiotic factors in the desert.
Biotic Factors
Biotic Factors are the living parts of a biome that affect the organisms who live there.
Plants, animals, and insects, are the biotic factors included in the desert.
Human Effects on the Desert
Humans have created many environmental problems in the desert by digging for fossil fuels, damaging the water that is sparsely available, bringing invasive species in to the ecosystem, and driving cars everywhere.
According to National Geographic, "Human activities such as firewood gathering and the grazing of animals are also converting semiarid regions into deserts, a process known as desertification." So while human being affect the deserts directly, they also affect other regions, making them deserts.
