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What are the main characteristics of a desert ecosystem?
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The main characteristics of a desert ecosystem include low rainfall, high temperatures, and extreme dryness. Plants that survive in these conditions have adapted to be drought-resistant and often have thick waxy leaves or specialized structures such as spines or thorns. Animals living in desert ecosystems must also adapt to cope with the harsh environment. Many species have developed ways of conserving water by storing it in their bodies. Examples include some insects that can store water in their abdomens and reptiles that can lay eggs in arid soil where they will hatch into fully grown adults. Deserts are also home to many unique plants and animals that cannot live elsewhere due to the lack of moisture.