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e-Journal

Mojave Wildlife (p. 148)


Step 1. Questions

To survive in dry, harsh environments, desert plants and animals must be tough. Yet even the toughest of desert wildlife face serious threats. How do these plants and animals survive?

Write a report about the threats and adaptations of desert wildlife. First, you will do some research to learn more about desert plants and animals. Here are some questions to guide your research:
  • What are some characteristics of the Mojave Desert?
  • What plants and animals live in the Mojave Desert?
  • What are some threats to Mojave wildlife?
  • What adaptations do desert plants and animals have?
Are you ready? Begin by visiting the Web sites listed in Step 2. Look for answers to the questions above, and write down what you learned in the note-taking boxes.

You may use search engines to find other Web sites. Or research threats faced by desert wildlife at the library. When you are ready, follow Steps 3 and 4 to write your report.

Step 2. Research

Research answers for the questions you were asked in Step 1. Visit these Web sites. Take notes about them on this page, too!


Toolbox Tip: Click here to learn how to move a browser window.


Plants and Animals of the Mojave Desert
Click on the name of each plant or animal to learn about it. Look for details about how each organism adapts to live in the desert. Also look for information about factors that threaten some species. Be sure to read the BURROS section to see how an animal introduced to this community has affected native desert dwellers.
Take Notes:



Desert Plant and Animal Adaptations
Read about desert plant and animal adaptations in this Web site. Learning about adaptations will also give you an idea of the threats these wildlife face. Click NEXT at the bottom to get to the next page. This Web site is provided by NASA-supported Classroom of the Future at Wheeling Jesuit University.
Take Notes:



Desert Tortoise
Mojave Desert tortoises are the largest reptiles in the Mojave Desert. Read on to learn about them, their habitat, and why they are threatened. The Web site is hosted by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Look for information and data that you can use to write your report.
Take Notes:



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