A Biome/Ecosystem WebQuest
Desert Biome

Introduction

The Task

Process

Sources

The Desert Task

Decide in your group who will do which job. Click on your "job" for further instructions.

Botanist

Meteorologist

Zoologist

Cartographer

Environmentalist

Sociologist

Botanist: A scientist who studies plants

Meteorologist: A scientist who studies weather

Zoologist: A scientist who studies animals

Cartographer: A map-maker

Environmentalist: A scientist who studies environmental impact

Sociologist: A scientist who studies societies and their culture

The Desert Botanist

Read through your task below.

1. Compare and contrast four species of desert plants. (How are they the same? How are they different?)
2. What plants would you find during a walk in the area? Describe and find pictures of at least two common desert plants.
3. Describe plant adaptations to desert survival.
4. Describe one desert food chain.

The Desert Meteorologist

Read through your task below.

1. Write a paragraph describing the climate of the desert. Include temperature and precipitation information.
2. Create two graphs- one that shows the average annual temperature of a desert and one that shows the annual average precipitation.
3. Are all deserts hot? Explain.
4. Compare the climates of the following deserts: Sahara, Gobi, Mohave, and Great Basin.

The Desert Zoologist

Read through your task below.

1. Describe two common diurnal (daytime) animals and two nocturnal (nighttime) animals.
2. Describe how animals survive in the desert- what adaptations do they have?
3. Describe a four-level desert food chain.
4. Include one picture of the most interesting desert animal and describe why that animal is so unique.

The Desert Enviromentalist

Read through your task below.

1. List enviromental concerns found in this biome.
2. Choose one to research.
3. Write a letter to address the concerns in your biome to one of the following:

newspaper
DNR
local conservationist group
legislator
state or national park service

The Desert Sociologist

Read through your task below.

1. What are some groups of people native to this biome? What are some features that describe them?
2. Compare the native inhabitants to current residents.
3. Find at least three pictures that reflect the culture of both native and current inhabitants of this biome.
4. Optional: Interview at least two of the current inhabitants for radio or television.

The Desert Cartographer

Read through your task below.

1. Color a world map to show the location of the following major deserts of the world: Great Basin, Mohave, Peruvian, Sahara, Arabian, Gobi, and the Great Sandy. Include a key.
2. Describe what the desert soil is like.
3. Explain what causes a desert to form.
4. What do desert rocks (formations) look like?