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Ecosystems of the Oceans & Deserts

The various desert and ocean ecosystems share representative characteristics, such as precipitation level or type of fauna, with other ecosystems in the larger desert or ocean biome, while possessing distinct qualities that distinguish them from related ecosystems. Oceans cover 70 percent of our planet's surface and 20 percent of Earth's lands mass is occupied by deserts. Each ecosystem supports a diverse range of plants and wildlife adapted to the rigors of its environment.

  1. Hot Deserts

    • The sparse rainfall hot deserts receive comes in brief, intense torrents between long dry spells and the hottest deserts receive under 1/2 inch of moisture annually, which typically comes as fog. Daytime temperatures are blistering, with National Geographic reporting that the Sahara's hottest days reach 122 degrees. Hot deserts still support a diverse variety of life, with plants that have adapted by growing root networks long enough to reach the water table beneath the sands or by evolving moisture storage capability that can sustain them for years. Wildlife tends to be small, with rodents, insects, spiders, birds and reptiles representing the dominant hot desert fauna.

    Polar Deserts

    • Polar deserts are found in Greenland, the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic, and receive 15 to 26 centimeters of annual precipitation in the form of snow. Polar deserts are characterized by extensive permafrost, ground that never thaws, and temperatures that never rise above 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the warmest months. The Encyclopedia of Earth notes that polar desert fauna consists chiefly of herbs and lichens, which are only present on approximately 5 percent of the polar desert's surface. Polar deserts support a rich array of wildlife such as whales, seals, hares and owls who have evolved to adapt to the frigid environment.

    Open Oceans

    • The ocean's uppermost layer, the pelagic zone, is home to most of the marine life humans are familiar with, such as sharks, rays and marine mammals. Phytoplankton are microscopic algae which comprise most of the pelagic zone's plant life. National Geographic indicates that these tiny plants produce half of Earth's oxygen through photosynthesis. The cold and intense pressures of the deeper benthic and abyssal zones are home to microorganisms and marine invertebrates that never leave these zones' perpetual darkness.

    Coral Reefs

    • Coral reef ecosystems are found in clear, shallow tropical waters where ample sunlight is able to penetrate the ocean to fuel the coral polyps' photosynthesis. Coral polyps produce calcium carbonate as a biological byproduct, which accumulates over thousands of years to provide the spiny, latticed reefs that are home to a diverse variety of marine life. Coral reefs share a synergistic relationship with mangrove trees on shore and the sea grass between the reef and the nearest beach. Mangrove roots keep the shore's soil intact and introduce nutrients into the ecosystem, while sea grass beds provide essential nutrients for reef dwellers and produce the oxygen needed to sustain life.

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