What do you think of when you hear the word "desert?" Do you think of vast sand dunes, and little or no water in any direction? Do you imagine sage brush and cactus? Or lizards, scorpions and tarantulas? The desert biomes of Earth, though drier than the other biomes, are still a treasure trove of life.
Because deserts receive very little water, plants and animals have become specialized to survive under extreme conditions. Camels have evolved unique techniques of storing large amounts of water within their bodies. Likewise, cactus and other desert plants have learned that to survive they must store the water they need so that it is available during the dry seasons.
Because of their dry environment, desert soil is nutrient poor. The poor soil and lack of water mean that the desert has very few plants. In a desert, it is common to see more dirt than plants. The desert biomes often experience very hot days and very cold nights. Creatures that live here have to do well in both extreme heat and extreme cold.
An oasis in the desert can form around a spring or a river. An oasis is an area rich with life. These oases might look more like a grassland or forest than a desert.
