Temperature
The temperate of the desert plays a great role in which organisms live here, due to the extremes of the desert biome. Deserts are often known for their extremes between day and night. Summer temperatures are long and warm, usually around 13-24 degrees C. Winters, at an average under 5 degrees C, are cooler and short. All together, the maximum and minimum temperatures are around 35-4 degrees C.
Due to these extremes, many organisms have found adaptions through evolution. Such adaptions include nocturnal habits, or even burrowing into the soil to avoid the sun.
Due to these extremes, many organisms have found adaptions through evolution. Such adaptions include nocturnal habits, or even burrowing into the soil to avoid the sun.
Rainfall
Deserts are characterized by their little annual rainfall, and the Namib is no exception. Precipitation accumulates to under .4 inches of rainfall per year inland, where the air is dryer than anywhere else in the area. Rainfall is also, however, inhibited closer to the coast due to the fog from the Atlantic. Rainfall in deserts, or lack thereof, brings about adaptions such as drawing more organisms closer to the coast, or a greater ability to retain water. An example of this is the cactus, which has larger stems for water storage, and reduction of leaf size to minimize evaporation.
Wind patterns
Wind patterns from inland are dryer coming in from the Indian Ocean, as they must pass over the African continent before reaching the western located Namib desert. In the more coastal region of the desert, cool winds come off the Atlantic ocean. When colliding with the heat, these winds create clouds and fog over the land. The moisture aids multiple organisms to survive within the extreme temperature.
Succession in the desert
Primary succession is the development of ecosystems on land that has been left completely without life. Some more common examples include volcanic eruption or landslides. While disturbances are frequent in the desert due to extreme temperatures in the night and day, it is mostly unheard of that a disaster will occur that wipes out the substrate altogether. Because the landscape is already mainly sand, the soil is rarely effected.
Secondary succession is the regrowth of a biome over time after a major disturbance to life. While this process will take less time than primary succession, it can still take anywhere from months to decades. In the desert biome, rain fall is very scarce. At times, then, when it does rain, the land itself is not well adapted, and a flash flood will occur. After any flood, a biome must undergo succession to reestablish drowned animals, insects, or plant life. Redevelopment and growth of biota will often take from 2-3 weeks in this case.
Secondary succession is the regrowth of a biome over time after a major disturbance to life. While this process will take less time than primary succession, it can still take anywhere from months to decades. In the desert biome, rain fall is very scarce. At times, then, when it does rain, the land itself is not well adapted, and a flash flood will occur. After any flood, a biome must undergo succession to reestablish drowned animals, insects, or plant life. Redevelopment and growth of biota will often take from 2-3 weeks in this case.