Life in the Mojave
At first glance, the Mojave Desert seems to be almost entirely devoid of life. The eye picks up the occasional creosote bush or yucca, but little else livens the scene. But as the eye adjusts, it slowly scans the landscape, and signs of activity become clear. Blooming cacti are nestled between boulders. Burrows are under every bush. Insects hustle and bustle. Even in the harshest places, life will find a way.
Over 2500 species of plants and animals have found a way to survive the Mojave Desert. They are scattered across the many desert habitats, ranging from the low salt flats to high elevation pinyon-juniper woodlands. With an average of 15cm of rainfall a year, distributed unevenly across all desert habitats, adaptability is key to survival.
Plants and animals alike have developed a myriad of ways to endure with very little water and temperatures ranging from 20° to 105°F Free water cannot be depended upon and other ways to hydrate must be found. Creatures must also cope with the extreme, life-draining heat.
Over 2500 species of plants and animals have found a way to survive the Mojave Desert. They are scattered across the many desert habitats, ranging from the low salt flats to high elevation pinyon-juniper woodlands. With an average of 15cm of rainfall a year, distributed unevenly across all desert habitats, adaptability is key to survival.
Plants and animals alike have developed a myriad of ways to endure with very little water and temperatures ranging from 20° to 105°F Free water cannot be depended upon and other ways to hydrate must be found. Creatures must also cope with the extreme, life-draining heat.
Many animals deal with the heat by avoiding it altogether. The majority of desert fauna is nocturnal or crepuscular (primarily active at dawn and dusk.) Instead of expending precious energy and water during hottest parts of the day, lizards, snakes, and various small mammals nestle into cool burrows to sleep the day away.
The Desert kangaroo rat is one such burrowing creature. It has adapted to desert live in several astounding ways. While they will drink water when available, they don't require it to sustain life. All required water can be obtained from the rat's diet of seeds, leaves, stems, and insects. Kangaroo rats also save water with highly concentrated urine, dry feces, and possessing sweat glands only on their feet.
Another resident, the Desert Tortoise, stores fat and water in their bodies. They skip summer completely, digging deep burrows to stay cool. They don't emerge again until the cooler autumn season. This clever method of desert hibernation is called estivation and is utilized by many desert denizens in response to temperatures, rainfall, or food scarcity.
Animals aren't the only life to adapt. Desert flora has several ways to obtain water in a desert, but it the humble creosote bush that has mastered it. The small scrubby bush with vibrant yellow blooms can survive drought better than any other desert plant. A long taproot extends as far as 10 feet underground to reach deep groundwater supplies. Another root system, right under the surface, spreads as far as 50 square yards and catches precious water from fleeting rainfall. The creosote also coats i's leaves with a noxious resin to prevent evaporation (and being snacked upon.
The most commonly thought of desert plants are various cacti. Like the creosote bush, cacti have a multitude of adaptations to life without much water. Water is stored within a hollow, thick-walled stem. A waxy coating prevents evaporation. Again, long roots seek out groundwater far below. Cacti's dangerous looking spines and scales are also key, as they don't lose water to evaporation like leaves.
Another deep-rooted plant is the famous Joshua Tree. Tallest of the yuccas, Joshua Trees are found only within the confines of the Mojave Desert. Its roots are thought to reach as far as 36 feet out from the tree. Large, fleshy leaves and a thick trunk are used to store water.
The list of adaptations to harsh desert life can go on and on. With over 2500 species, each has developed its own way to survive. In the week we spent in the Mojave Desert, only a tiny fraction of life was observed. Years could pass before a full view can be made, but the stubbornness to survive is amazing at any level.
“Because the history of evolution is that life escapes all barriers. Life breaks free. Life expands to new territories. Painfully, perhaps even dangerously. But life finds a way.”
― Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park
