Which biome is a region with too little rainfall to support much plant life (the Sahara)?

Which biome is a region with too little rainfall to support much plant life (the Sahara)?

• A. Rainforest
• B. Savanna
• C. Desert
• D. Taiga

Answer: (C)

Low rainfall is the key factor limiting plant life. A desert is defined by aridity, meaning there isn’t enough water to support dense vegetation. The Sahara exemplifies this, with very little annual precipitation and high evaporation, which leads to sparse plant life and vast sand or rock. Deserts are characterized by harsh, dry conditions rather than by heat alone, and plants that do survive there are highly adapted to conserve water. By contrast, a rainforest receives abundant rainfall and sustains lush, dense plant communities; a savanna has more rain than a desert and supports grasses with scattered trees; and a taiga is a cold, forested biome with enough precipitation to sustain coniferous trees.

Low rainfall is the key factor limiting plant life. A desert is defined by aridity, meaning there isn’t enough water to support dense vegetation. The Sahara exemplifies this, with very little annual precipitation and high evaporation, which leads to sparse plant life and vast sand or rock. Deserts are characterized by harsh, dry conditions rather than by heat alone, and plants that do survive there are highly adapted to conserve water.

By contrast, a rainforest receives abundant rainfall and sustains lush, dense plant communities; a savanna has more rain than a desert and supports grasses with scattered trees; and a taiga is a cold, forested biome with enough precipitation to sustain coniferous trees.