Fauna of the Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is home to many different species of large predator- the Kalahari lion, the spotted and brown hyena and the wild dog. There are many large predatory birds, including eagles, owls, kestrels and falcons. Antelope, wildebeest and ostriches are also found in the Kalahari Desert. The meerkat is found almost exclusively in the Kalahari Desert, and they are endemic to the region. The popular television series “Meerkat Manor” was filmed in the Kalahari Desert.
There is a wide variety of fauna in the Kalahari Desert, ranging from the smallest meerkat to the mightiest lion. Notice the Kalahari Lion has a darker pelt than those of other parts of Africa.
Flora of the Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert sports a surprisingly large variety of flora, despite its aridity. This is because the plants generally get rainfall in the summer, which can transform the sandy dunes into ground covered in wildflowers. Acacia trees, as well as multiple herbs and grasses. The Kiwano fruit is native to the Kalahari Desert, and has a similar taste and texture to cucumber. Cacti are common due to the arid environment, and often provide a valuable source of water during the winter.
Primary Production in the Kalahari Desert
Primary Productivity is the amount of solar energy that is photosynthesised into chemical energy. This is affected my multiple factors- amount of water, temperature, amount of sunlight. Because the Kalahari desert has a very hot and dry climate, it has a low Primary Production, because water is very important for photosynthesis. The high temperatures also affect the Primary Production, because it is hard for plants to survive in hot climates if they do not have access to plenty of water.
While the Kalahari Desert has a low Net Primary Production (the measure of the amount of energy produced by the plant but not used) is low due to climate factors, its Gross Primary Production (the measure of the amount of energy produced by the plant) is very close to its NPP. This shows that the flora has adapted to the harsh conditions and developed ways to use less energy to provide for the Kalahari biome.
While the Kalahari Desert has a low Net Primary Production (the measure of the amount of energy produced by the plant but not used) is low due to climate factors, its Gross Primary Production (the measure of the amount of energy produced by the plant) is very close to its NPP. This shows that the flora has adapted to the harsh conditions and developed ways to use less energy to provide for the Kalahari biome.