Abiotic Factors

 

 

Many abiotic factors come into play in the Mojave Desert, but the most important are water and temperature. Water is essential for organism growth and reproduction, and it is not a condition, but a resource in the Mojave Desert. With so little rainfall, organisms either must have other sources of water or be able to survive with little rain. The Mojave Desert offers temporary rock pools, rivers and washes as water sources. Furthermore, desert plants are capable of holding water.
Temperature is a significant abiotic factor as well. Both freezing and extremely hot temperatures must be within the limits of tolerance of organisms in the Mojave Desert in order to survive. Some nocturnal and crepuscular animals avoid these high temperatures.
In the Mojave Desert, elevation is a very important condition that has to be taken into account because it influences both temperature and precipitation. Elevations are normally between 900 and 1800 meters, but the highest peak is 3367 meters above sea level at Telescope Peak and the lowest point is 86 meters below sea level at Badwater. These changes in elevation are due to the unique topography of this desert, which contains both mountains and basins. Elevation creates different ranges of tolerance for organisms.
The Colorado River runs to the East of the Mojave Desert, and it is bounded in the west by the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It lies in the rain shadow of these mountains, which means that the slope aspect of the Sierra Nevada Mountains doesn’t allow the hot and moist air from the Pacific to reach the desert. The effect is that less precipitation will occur in the desert and it will be very dry.
Sunlight is another abiotic factor present in the desert. Soil temperatures can reach nearly 90°C due to the sun’s direct rays. Some animals have light colored feathers and fur so as to reflect the sunlight. Other diurnal animals will seek whatever shade they can find to escape the suns rays.

Lastly, wind speed is another abiotic factor at work in the Mojave Desert. Windy days are common and have been known to reach 30 mph. Winds can help spread plant seeds and aid in pollination, but strong winds can also prove to be destructive.

The synergistic effect of hot temperatures and low preciitation can make a zone of death for many of the world's organisms, but the biotic community of the Mojave Desert can survive and may even thrive regardless of these abiotic factors.