Sonoran

Question 1

Physical and human?

Answer 1

Desert has been largely replaced by the city Phoenix
Water is taken from rivers and groundwater for growing population which affects cottonwood trees and mesquite bushes
Road/ gas/ water destroys habitats and restricts movement of animals
Car tyres crush stems leaves and compact soils
Overgrazing leaves only unpalatable species
Cryptobiotic soil crusts destroyed
Livestock crush lizards and desert dwellers
Domesticated animals eg donkey escape into wild and multiply causing decline in native bighorn sheep
Non native buffalo grass occupies gaps in vegetation increasing fuel for fire eg 1994
1150 acres of saguaro np

Question 2

Climate characteristics?

Answer 2

Biseasonal rainfall encourages growth of succulents eg saguaro cactus
Drought evading tree - Paolo Verdi loses leaves in dry season to prevent transpiration and photosynthesises through green bark
Gentle slopes have creosote bushes
Phreatophytes eg mesquite bushes grow beside streams/ salt pans
Soils are thin fertile alkaline
Seasonal rains leach soluble salts down through soil and are drawn up through evaporation
Flash flooding compacts soils leaving an impermeable surface