Limiting Factors
The main limiting factor in a desert is water supply. Water is very limited in a desert. This can affect many species because there just isn't enough water for them all. For example, that could affect the number of coyotes that could live in area. There may only be enough water for ten coyotes so the water is a limiting factor and the carrying capacity is ten coyotes. Another limiting factor is food. Some deserts have very sparce vegetation and food. For example, there may only be enough food for twenty Camels in area. One last limiting factor is weather conditions. Deserts are very hot and can experience frequent sandstorms. This can affect many animals. For example, it may be very hot and cause Camels to die due to dehydration. The weather here would be a limiting factor.
Overproduction
The Engelmann Prickly Pear Cactus is one organism in the desert that uses overproduction to survive. Because not all seeds germinate, it produces more than the it needs. This way it gets more seeds dispersed and allow the species to continue to survive. Other prickly pear cacti also overproduce in order to survive. This process of overproduction in the cacti ensures their survival.
Population Size
Direct Observation- Direct observation is directly counting the organisms in an area. To best determine the population size of Saguaro Cacti in an area I would use direst observation. It would be easy to see and count them directly.
Indirect Observation- Indirect observation is looking for homes of animals in an area and estimating how many of the species live in a nest and lastly using a proportion to determine the whole population of an area. To best determine the population of Elf Owls in an area I would use indirect observation. It would be easy to see their nests in the cacti. I would then use a proportion to figure out the total amount of owls in the area.
Sampling- Sampling is counting the amount of a species in an area and then multipling that number by the ratio of how large the whole area you're stimating is.To best determine the amount of Coyotes in an area I would use sampling. It would be easy to see them in a given area. I would then just use a proportion to figure out the total number of Coyotes in the area.
Mark and Recapture- Mark and recapture is catching organisms, tagging them, and releasing them to recatch them. There is them a mathmatical equation to determine the population size.To best determine the population of Camels in an area I would use mark and recapture. Camels move a lot from place to place so by marking and recapturing them I could get a more accurate estimate of the population size.
Indirect Observation- Indirect observation is looking for homes of animals in an area and estimating how many of the species live in a nest and lastly using a proportion to determine the whole population of an area. To best determine the population of Elf Owls in an area I would use indirect observation. It would be easy to see their nests in the cacti. I would then use a proportion to figure out the total amount of owls in the area.
Sampling- Sampling is counting the amount of a species in an area and then multipling that number by the ratio of how large the whole area you're stimating is.To best determine the amount of Coyotes in an area I would use sampling. It would be easy to see them in a given area. I would then just use a proportion to figure out the total number of Coyotes in the area.
Mark and Recapture- Mark and recapture is catching organisms, tagging them, and releasing them to recatch them. There is them a mathmatical equation to determine the population size.To best determine the population of Camels in an area I would use mark and recapture. Camels move a lot from place to place so by marking and recapturing them I could get a more accurate estimate of the population size.