Excessive groundwater extracted from the desert to support communities is depleting the water faster than it can be ⦠Removal of trees for fuel â cutting down trees to use the wood for fuel leads to roots dying. This biome has a layer of soil that can either be sandy, gravelly, or stony, depending on the type of desert. Ocotillo. Human exploitation of fragile ecosystems can lead to the droughts and arid conditions characteristic of desertification. Cactus. Gobi Desert. Human development of communities on the edges of the desert are eroding the desert habitat causing land degradation, desertification and loss of diversity, as well as contributing to evaporation and dust storms. We call these plants, alien plants. List of Deserts. Prior to the 21 st century, few people would consider inhabiting in a desert, but with todayâs advanced technology, life in the desert has become much easier. Development of urban areas is increasingly cutting into grassland habitat. Invasive species are taking up all the resources that the plants need to survive. Unsustainable practices in the use of ⦠Sitemap. Alien plants are plants planted by human and not native to the area. Continued global warming could turn current marginal grasslands into deserts as rainfall patterns change. Palo Verde. Antarctica. Sahara Desert. Atacama Desert. Creosote. A final way that humans ca have a positive impact on the desert biome is by gaining knowledge about the biome. Plants. Irrigation by humans has changed the makeup of the soil in desert regions, and oil and gas production, nuclear waste depositing, as well as the presence of vehicles driving through the desert have all caused additional damage. This biome has a layer of soil that can either be sandy, gravelly, or stony, depending on the type of desert. Desert Food Web. Air conditioning and water supplies have attracted a wide range of people to relocate to the sunny desert. Ecological Concernsâ > â Threats to the Desert. Deserts usually get at most 50 centimeters (20 inches) of rainfall a year, and the organisms that ⦠What are some threats to this biome? If a human has more information about how gentle this ecosystem is and how their actions may affect this desert biome and all of its intricate interactions, then they are less likely to purposefully harm this biome. The grazers also poison many native animals, which can greatly disrupt the ecosystem. Effects include land degradation, soil erosion and sterility, and a loss of biodiversity, with huge economic costs for nations where deserts are growing. This biome has a layer of soil that can either be sandy, gravelly, or stony, depending on the type of desert⦠Desert Threats and Endangered Species | National Geographic The desert biome covers about one-fifth of Earthâs surface. One of the largest threats to the environment is cattle farming. 5. The soil will no longer be held together by the roots and erosion will occur; Overgrazing â soil becomes bare as the result of vegetation being removed by grazing animals. Desert Threats and Endangered Species | National Geographic The desert biome covers about one-fifth of Earthâs surface. Higher temperatures can produce a growth in wildfires that will change the landscapes in the desert biomes by killing slow-growing grasses and instead leaving fast-growing grasses. One of the threats that the Mojave Desert is facing, is invasive species. Ecological Concerns. The desert biome covers about one-fifth of Earthâs surface. Deserts usually get at most 50 centimeters (20 inches) of rainfall a year, and the organisms that live in deserts are adapted to this extremely dry ⦠Threats - Mojave Desert. Climate of Biome. Nuclear waste may be dumped in the desert⦠Yucca. The alien plants not only affect the plants, but the ⦠Endangered Species. Much of the grassland in the U.S. is used for agriculture. Threats to the Desert. As usual, development is a huge threat to the desert biome. Sources. The farmers erect fences and clear the land of native vegetation, which many animals depend on for food and shelter. Global warming is increasing the already existing drought, which is drying up water holes.