Sonora Desert Ecosystem Interactions of Plants, Animals and the land

Sonora Desert Map

Climate of the Sonora Desert The Sonora Desert has a very dry climate with temperatures that reaches to 58º F in the winter and 86º F in the summer. It is also said that in the seasons, temperature can fall to 32º F at night and in some of the areas of the desert at the tip of Mexico could rise up to 134º F. In rainy seasons, rainfall could happen in the winter and summer and both have similar effects. Summer rains are short and heavy while the Winter rains are long and lighter.

Climate

Plants of the Land The Sonora Desert has over 2000 plant species because of its large space, mostly all plants that migrated in this desert were mostly cacti in different forms, forms of cacti can include trees, bushes, and fruits grown on them.

Various Cactus Species As said, 2000 of the plant species were mostly cacti, and cacti were most commonly a source of energy most animals living in this desert consume, Probably the most famous cactus species that had survive thousands of years was the Saguaro Cactus.

The Great Saguaro Cactus The Saguaro Cactus was named the largest cactus in the U.S. as it had reached the height of 12 meters ( It could overreach a humans standard height also reach height above all plants). The cactus can also live up to 200 years. Most animals shelter themselves on the Saguaro Cactus as it provides energy on the succulent flowers it grows on the surfaces.

The Great Saguaro Cactus

Creosote Bush The Creosote Bush is a native evergreen shrub that can 13.2 feet tall. Its leaves and branches are aligned itself to give much room for new growth of flowers or new branches, and because of this, desert animals and reptiles use the Creosote Bush as its food and shelter, most mammals dig beneath the Creosote bush to shelter. The Creosote Bush was also known to live up from 900 to a thousand years, making that another of the Earth’s oldest living organism.

Reptiles of Sonora -Sonoran Mud Turtle -Groundsnake -Chuckwalla

Mammals of Sonora <-White-nosed coati <-Desert Cotton -Tail Rabbit <-Ocelot Javilina (Wild Pig)

Insects of Sonora <-Bark Scorpion <-Western Conifer Seed Bug <-Hamadryas glauconome <-Millipede

Interdependencies In the Sonora Desert, most mammals and insects rely on cacti such as the Saguaro Cactus. In order to get its energy from the cactus, animals that could fly can gather foods from nectar flowers that the cactuses grow on their surfaces. Mammals that seeks for shelter often build their nests on cactuses and the only good thing about that is that the cactus protects itself with spines around their surfaces to shield itself from predators such as a wolf or a snake.