North American Deserts

CENTRAL EL PASO
Chihuahuan Desert Habitat types
SCRUB
Chihuahuan Desert Habitats – Desert Scrub
Chihuahuan Desert Habitats –
Arroyos, Canyons and Bajadas
Chihuahuan Desert Habitats –
Grasslands
Chihuahuan Desert Habitats - Mountain Islands
 Types of Plants Found the Chihuahuan Desert
Cacti Species

Yucca Species

Sotol
Agave Species

Ocotillo
CACTI OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT
Urbanization
What are the Greatest Threats to Wildlife?
- Loss of Habitat
- Habitat Fragmentation
- Habitat Destruction
What are the Greatest Threats to Wildlife?
Introduction of Non-native Species
Plants that Represent the Chihuahuan Desert
Indicator Species
Tarbush
Mariola
Lechuguilla

Creosote bush
 PLANTS OF THE CHIHUHUAN DESERT

Turpentine Bush
Sandsage

Mariola Feather Dalea

 PLANTS OF THE CHIHUHUAN DESERT

DESERT WILLOW
Plain’s Penstemon
Havard Penstemon
Desert Plant Drought Adaptations

- Succulence
- Leaves modified to spines
- Waxy and tough skin
- Expandable tissue
- Widespread and shallow roots
- CAM Photosynthesis
Desert Plant Drought Adaptations
- Small leaf size
- Plant brightly colored
- Leaf texture fuzzy or waxy
- Deep tap root
- Dormancy
 DESERT PLANTADAPTATIONS

- Succulence

Agave Species

Cacti species
 DESERT PLANTADAPTATIONS

- Widespread and shallow roots

- Waxy and tough skin

Yucca Species Sotol

 DESERT PLANT ADAPTATIONS

- Small leaf size

Feather Dalea
 DESERT PLANTADAPTATIONS

- Specialized photosynthesis

Cacti Species
 Carnivores

Food Web

Omnivores

Herbivores
ARTHROPODS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Scorpions
ARTHROPODS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Tarantula
Vineagroon
 Reptiles of the Chihuahuan Desert

Banded Gecko

Greater Earless Lizard Big Bend Gecko

Texas Horned Lizard

Round-tailed Horned Lizard

Mountain Short-horned Lizard

 Texas Spotted Whiptail

Little Striped Whiptail

Rock Rattlesnake
HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Black-chinned Hummingbird - Male

HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Black-chinned Hummingbird - Female

HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Broad-tailed Hummingbird
HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Anna’s Hummingbird
HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Rufous Hummingbird - Male

HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Rufous Hummingbird - Female

HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Calliope Hummingbird
 HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Costa’s Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
BIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Verdin Northern Cardinal

BIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Pyyruloxia

Inca Dove
 SONGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Black-throated Sparrow

Red-winged Blackbird
 SONGBIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Painted Bunting

Northern Mockingbird
 BIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Northern Flicker
Ash-throated Flycatcher
 BIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Greater Roadrunner

Greater Yellowlegs
 BIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Swainson’s Hawk

Scaled Quail
BIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Golden Eagle
 BIRDS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Burrowing Owl
 SMALL HERBIVORES OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Kangaroo Rat
Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Desert Cottontail
LARGE HERBIVORES OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Mule Deer

Pronghorn Antelope
LARGE HERBIVORES OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Bighorn Sheep Collared Peccary

OMNIVORES OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Gray Fox
Ring-tail

Coyote
CARNIVORES OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Mountain Lion Bobcat

 OMNIVORES OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Raccoon

Badger
CARNIVORES OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Striped Skunk

Hooded Skunk

Spotted Skunk
 DESERT WILDLIFE ADAPTATIONS

OBTAINING WATER:
- Seeds and succulent plants
- Insect and animal diets
- Create metabolic water

Scaled Quail

Kangaroo Rat
 DESERT WILDLIFE ADAPTATIONS

MOISTURE RETENTION:
- Concentrated urine
- Dry fecal matter
- Burrows

Kangaroo Rat
 DESERT WILDLIFE ADAPTATIONS

COOLING MECHANISMS:
- Big ears
- Long legs
- Light coloring
- Urohydrosis
 DESERT WILDLIFE ADAPTATIONS

Protection from extreme temperatures:

- Active at night (nocturnal)
- Active during dawn and dusk
- Cover: burrows and shade
- Soaring
 DESERT WILDLIFE ADAPTATIONS

Protection from extreme temperatures:

- Soaring
DESERT PLANT and ANIMAL INTERRELATIONSHIPS
 NECTAR PLANTS OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT

Desert Willow
Acacia species

Calliandra species
Food for Wildlife - Mesquite Beans
 DESERT WILDLIFE FOOD WEB

Coyote
Greater Roadrunner

Desert Kingsnake Tarantula

Kangaroo Rat
PLACES TO VIEW WILDLIFE - RIO BOSQUE PARK
RIO BOSQUE WETLAND PARK
RIO BOSQUE WETLAND PARK
PLACES TO VIEW WILDLIFE - FEATHER LAKE BIRD SANTUARY
RIO BOSQUE WETLAND PARK
RIO BOSQUE WETLAND PARK
RIO GRANDE RIVER
HABITAT DEGRADATION
Smuggled birds seized by Customs on the Texas/Mexico border

Birds being imported

Parrots wrapped in newspaper suffocated before being found by
Customs
A smuggled parrot with its feet bound and beak wrapped found
dead when seized with 259 others by Customs