Mojave Desert Ecosystem

The Mojave Desert

The Mojave Desert is sought out to be the smallest desert in the United States. This desert is approximately 50,400 square miles in range; it is relatively the size of Alabama. The desert predominately consists of the fauna closets to the Sonoran desert; while some of its woodland consists of the Great Basin. The Mojave desert is acclaimed to being unique for its range of elevations which are not found in any other North American deserts. (Sea level in Death Valley- 1,600 on certain mountain tops.) The Mojave deserts biome consists of deserts and xeric shrublands; although it can be argued that it is not a biological distinct desert it does represent distinct communities which occur throughout the desert.

-Smallest desert in the US.
-50,400 square miles in range
-About the size of Alabama
-Elivation ranges from Sea level to 1,600ft

The Mojave Desert is located in the Southwest corner of the United States.

The Mojave Desert also covers four states California, Navada, Arizona and Utah.

The Region is considered to be Arid. The Mojave also receives a very small amount of rain each year.

-The Mojave Desert receives less than 7 inches of rain a year.

-This means that every living thing in the area must adapt to these harsh conditions.

-Tempture: Winter ranges from 20-80 degrees

-Summer ranges from 70-120+ degrees

History

-At the end of the last ice age the Mojave Desert climate was much wetter, there were a number of lakes that littered the desert floor. As the climate warmed the lakes dried up and created playas or dry lake beds.

Fauna/ Animals

There are many diffrent types of animals that depend on the Mojave Desert ecosystem.

-From first glance it is had to imagine that any wildlife is able to survive in the desert, yet the Mojave has a wide varity of animals that have adapted to its harsh enviorment.

-Since there is very little water in the region, most all these animals seen below either feed on other animals or plants to aquire the water they need to survive.

The Rattlesnake

Bobcat

Lizard

Kangaroo Rat

Black ear rabbit

Desert Tortoise

Flora / Plants

There are also many diffrent plants that depend on the Mojave Desert Ecosystem.

-The Mojave Desert plants have also adapted to the harsh enviorment.
-Many of the plants have developed a means to conserve or store water.

Prickly Pear Cactus

-As you can see in this picture: This Cactus has adapted to create its own shade and is able to protect it self from the high temptures and conserve its water content.
-The cautus stands 3 feet tall, the pads are 3-6"round and it yelds Pear shape fruit.

Joshua Tree

Flowering Yucca

Creosote Bush [Chaparral]

The Mojave desert is some what a well preserved habitat, it has not drastically been altered by human impact. However; the main reason for habitat destruction/lose would be due to the increase of land-fill space, suburbanization, and urbanization. In which, Los Angeles and Las Vegas push for these endemics; they want to utilize the landfill spaces for agricultural development, grazing, off-road vehicles, and military activities. (see photographs below.) Roads have also been seen as a major reason for the destruction of species such as: various snake species, desert tortoise, and big horn sheep. Areas of the Mojave desert which are in danger/not protected would be found in lower elevation valleys; in which off-road vehicles and development are harming these valleys and the flora such as Creosote bush areas. The main human impacts are due to destruction of the land, so that it may be used for other land-fill spaces.

Human Impacts/Damaging Factors

Off-road Vehicles Unathorised trails

Click here to see how the damage is done.

http://youtu.be/99bNkhaEsJA

Major Solar Projects Millitary training

Mining

Urban Sprawl (Las Vegas) 20 years

Through analyzing the current issues the Mojave desert is faced with, it is safe to say that with precautions and limitations this ecosystem can be kept well protected without its natural habitat being destroyed even more. In retrospect to the Mojave desert it seems to be well preserved for the most part, other than off-road vehicles, military sites, and other land fill spaces. The Mojave desert's future will be prosperous with the right enforcement and preservation, in which habitats that have not been impacted by humans should remain enclosed, while habitats that have been impacted should be kept safe and enforced by the National Forrest Preservation association.

In accordance to this information listed above, it can easily be stated that the Mojave desert can in fact be preserved and kept safe from human impact; in order to do so certain regulations would have to be established along with enforcement of preserves amongst affected areas with in this ecosystem. A great example as to who the Mojave desert can be kept preserved for numerous decades is through private companies, in which they buy out land and give it over to the National Forrest Preservation Services.A solution to off-road vehicles would be to limit their use of the road, and to enforce the road so that they do not cause or destroy other paths/terrains. Mining is also another factor that needs to be resolved, in which mining locations can easily be decreased and limited to already existing mining locations. Another growing issue is military sites, in which this should also be addressed due to the fact that it is taking up natural habitats, and destroying both fauna and flora. Ultimately the greatest issue that needs to be addressed is land fill space, urbanization, and suburbanization; in which they are bringing forth building developments which will harm the ecosystem as a whole. All of these issues can be enforced and resolved through legal actions, and with the aid of the National Forrest Preservation Services, California Desert Protection League, California Native Plant Society, Sierra Club, and The Wilderness Society.

How you can help save the Mojave Desert!

As Dr. Gillespie says, "Go visit"!

Learn an spread the word.

VEGAS BABY! VEGAS!