Desert history

What is the critter of the day discussed in the lecture?

Desert stink beetle

What geological process allows tectonic plates to shift?

Plates float on magma

Which direction is the Pacific Plate moving?

West

What causes mountains to rise?

Compression of crust and volcanic activity

What is the result of the subduction of the Farallon Plate?

Formation of mountains

What are the three main deserts mentioned in the lecture?

Mohave, Sonoran, Great Basin, and Chihuahuan

How much precipitation does the Sonoran Desert receive annually?

3-15 inches

What are horse latitudes?

High pressure zones where cool dry air descends

What is the significance of the Pleistocene glaciations?

Fluctuations in Earth's temperature and CO2 levels

Which plant family is particularly well represented in the Sonoran Desert?

Cactaceae (cacti)

What adaptation do cacti have for drought resistance?

Succulent stems that store water

What is the role of mesquite trees in the Sonoran Desert?

They have deep tap roots that access water

What is desert mistletoe and how does it spread?

A parasite that spreads through the phainopepla bird

What is the fastest land mammal in the west?

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)

What is the primary diet of javelinas?

Prickly pear cacti

What is an indicator species?

A species that indicates the biotic community

What is chiropterophilous?

Referring to flowers that attract bats for pollination

What is the definition of ruminant?

A herbivore that digests plant matter in a special stomach chamber

What is the significance of the Hadley cell?

It describes large scale tropical atmospheric circulation patterns

What does the term 'basin and range faulting' refer to?

Caused by tectonic plates spreading apart, resulting in uplifted mountains and down-dropped valleys

What is orographic precipitation?

Rainfall that occurs when moist air is forced up by high terrain

What is the common name for the family Tayassuidae?

Collared peccary (javelina)

What is the ecological role of bats in the Sonoran Desert?

They pollinate flowers and disperse seeds

What is the primary characteristic of Poaceae?

Grasses that are important in agriculture and have C4 metabolism

What are the adaptations of buffelgrass?

Promotes fire and dominance of grasses over trees

What does 'crepuscular' mean?

Active at dawn and dusk

What is the main challenge for life in the Sonoran Desert?

Water limitation

What is the relationship between agave and yucca?

They are closely related genera in the family Asparagaceae

What is the significance of the term 'succulence'?

Refers to the storage of water in plant tissues to combat drought