Research/Project Results

This image shows the transect site where the study was completed. Governor Hunt's tomb is a local landmark and can be seen at the top.

This is a 2nd photo of the transect site. The shrubs are creosote bushes. These bushes are broad leaved, but they are "evergreen". They gradually lose a few leaves at a time throughout the year. In fact, they can last for many months without any water, just going from bright green to dull olive green. They survive the drying conditions because the leaves are small (have a small surface area) and have a waxy outer coating, like pine needles! This is very similar to Wintergreen, a small evergreen herb found in the Boreal biome and in the Temperate Deciduous biome. It also has a waxy layer and small leaves. Its leaves can be dug out of the snow in winter!

The tall cacti are Saguaro cacti. These cacti are succulent plants - they have thick, moist tissue inside their epidermis. They have sharp thorns on their epidermis which discourages animals from eating the moist inner tissue, which might kill the plant.

This is a close-up of a creosote bush with a jack rabbit hiding underneath. Lots of animals use creosote bushes for shelter. The photo shows some white, fuzzy seed capsules that form after the yellow flowers drop. A neat fact about creosote bushes is that they are responsible for the delightful spicy scent that pervades the desert after a rain. Their tiny, resinous leaves give off the scent when they get wet. The leaves contain toxins that keep most animals from eating them, although rabbits nibble on them in hard times. Native Americans used cresote for various medicinal purposes!

Home

Home Join Protocol Enter Data E-pals Research