Deserts (3)

 


Desert biomes are prominent in Pakistan, where they make up 68% of the total area. Despite their seemingly unsuitable conditions, they actually contribute a lot to the biodiversity of Pakistan with their large collection of flora and fauna. Unfortunately, they are rapidly expanding due to global warming, which isn't beneficial for us.

Location: Desert biomes are located mainly in Sindh, Balochistan and Southern Punjab where the temperatures as well as humidity are high and the land is flat. They are usually found in areas with less vegetation and rainfall. They are expanding nowadays into the plateaus of Punjab. A few popular deserts include Thar, Cholistan, Thar, and Kharan deserts.

Features: These deserts are mostly semi-arid which favors biodiversity. Also, the unique weather and soil is comparatively more efficient for housing vegetation. Temperatures may reach 50' C in Summers. The presence of oasis and other clearings helps nomads settle there.


Flora and Fauna: Desert biomes in Pakistan have a lot of wildlife biodiversity. Species of deer such as blackbuck and chinkara are present in a large quantity due to the fact that the dusty color of the sand helps them camouflage themselves. The presence of dry reeds and thin grass at some locations is enough for them to nibble on. Acacia trees, which are high, provide food for camels, which are present in large quantities due to the presence of an arid atmosphere and soft sand. The camels are accompanied by blue bulls, who too use the conditions to their advantage. Baobab trees provide shelter for local birds, as well as for a few migrating species which can tolerate arid climate, increasing the deserts' biodiversity. Since there is a lot of prey in these deserts, several species of snakes, wildcats and foxes have learned to adapt to the environment in order to hunt. Also, deserts are littered with varieties of cactus and wildflowers which vultures feast on. Those vulture also devour animal carcasses, creating a MASSIVE FOOD CHAIN.


This shows that even seemingly boring places such as deserts house so much biodiversity. Desert ecosystems are the largest in Pakistan and they add to the beauty and uniqueness of the wildlife biodiversity of our country.

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