Certain plants and animals can survive under what seem like impossible conditions.
Certain
plants
and
animals
can
survive
under
what
seem
like
impossible
conditions
.
Blind fish live freely under ocean depths that are ly dark and cold.
Blind
fish
live
freely
under
ocean
depths
that
are
ly
dark
and
cold
.
Bacteria live at temperatures of 600 degF or a higher in places where the heat comes from the deep earth.
Bacteria
live
at
temperatures
of
600
degF
or
a
higher
in
places
where
the
heat
comes
from
the
deep
earth
.
One of the most remarkable achievements that we can observe directly is the ability of the plants and animals in the desert.
One
of
the
most
remarkable
achievements
that
we
can
observe
directly
is
the
ability
of
the
plants
and
animals
in
the
desert
.
In the Death Valley, temperatures of 134 degF in the shade have been officially reported Yet lizards live there, along with 600 species of plants, 30 species of mammals?
In
the
Death
Valley
,
temperatures
of
134
degF
in
the
shade
have
been
officially
reported
Yet
lizards
live
there
,
along
with
600
species
of
plants
,
30
species
of
mammals
?
and even fish.
and
even
fish
.
While the days are terribly hot, the nights are extremely cold.
While
the
days
are
terribly
hot
,
the
nights
are
extremely
cold
.
Temperatures can fall down by as much as 50 degF.
Temperatures
can
fall
down
by
as
much
as
50
degF
.
Plants called xerophytes are perfectly adapted to the extremely dry conditions.
Plants
called
xerophytes
are
perfectly
adapted
to
the
extremely
dry
conditions
.
These plants have survived by developing techniques for coping with their environment.
These
plants
have
survived
by
developing
techniques
for
coping
with
their
environment
.
Like all living things, they must have water, and they get it in several ways.
Like
all
living
things
,
they
must
have
water
,
and
they
get
it
in
several
ways
.
The mesquite and the prickly pear pick up moisture in opposite ways.
The
mesquite
and
the
prickly
pear
pick
up
moisture
in
opposite
ways
.
The mesquite sends its roots down as deep as 60 feet to tap the water table.
The
mesquite
sends
its
roots
down
as
deep
as
60
feet
to
tap
the
water
table
.
The prickly pear, on the other hand, spreads its roots wide.
The
prickly
pear
,
on
the
other
hand
,
spreads
its
roots
wide
.
These roots are shallow but they pick up whatever moisture is available at ground level.
These
roots
are
shallow
but
they
pick
up
whatever
moisture
is
available
at
ground
level
.
The paloverde saves water by shedding leaves in times of extreme drought The barrel cactus makes sure of a water supply by storing water in the plant itself.
The
paloverde
saves
water
by
shedding
leaves
in
times
of
extreme
drought
The
barrel
cactus
makes
sure
of
a
water
supply
by
storing
water
in
the
plant
itself
.
The saguaro cactus stores so much water that it can survive years of drought.
The
saguaro
cactus
stores
so
much
water
that
it
can
survive
years
of
drought
.
But even the saguaro will die sooner or later if there is no rain.
But
even
the
saguaro
will
die
sooner
or
later
if
there
is
no
rain
.
All these plants, although well adjusted to their environment, must eventually get water.
All
these
plants
,
although
well
adjusted
to
their
environment
,
must
eventually
get
water
.
Even if the parent plants die, there are always seeds to keep the species alive.
Even
if
the
parent
plants
die
,
there
are
always
seeds
to
keep
the
species
alive
.
Since the desert is so tough, thousands of seeds must be released to produce one plant.
Since
the
desert
is
so
tough
,
thousands
of
seeds
must
be
released
to
produce
one
plant
.
To get rooted, these seeds must have exactly the right conditions.
To
get
rooted
,
these
seeds
must
have
exactly
the
right
conditions
.
They can lie dormant for months, even years, until a little water stimulates the sparks of life.
They
can
lie
dormant
for
months
,
even
years
,
until
a
little
water
stimulates
the
sparks
of
life
.
Certain plants and animals can survive under what seem like impossible conditions. Blind fish live freely under ocean depths that are ly dark and cold. Bacteria live at temperatures of 600 degF or a higher in places where the heat comes from the deep earth. One of the most remarkable achievements that we can observe directly is the ability of the plants and animals in the desert.  In the Death Valley, temperatures of 134 degF in the shade have been officially reported Yet lizards live there, along with 600 species of plants, 30 species of mammals? and even fish. While the days are terribly hot, the nights are extremely cold. Temperatures can fall down by as much as 50 degF.  Plants called xerophytes are perfectly adapted to the extremely dry conditions. These plants have survived by developing techniques for coping with their environment. Like all living things, they must have water, and they get it in several ways.  The mesquite and the prickly pear pick up moisture in opposite ways. The mesquite sends its roots down as deep as 60 feet to tap the water table. The prickly pear, on the other hand, spreads its roots wide. These roots are shallow but they pick up whatever moisture is available at ground level. The paloverde saves water by shedding leaves in times of extreme drought The barrel cactus makes sure of a water supply by storing water in the plant itself. The saguaro cactus stores so much water that it can survive years of drought. But even the saguaro will die sooner or later if there is no rain. All these plants, although well adjusted to their environment, must eventually get water.  Even if the parent plants die, there are always seeds to keep the species alive. Since the desert is so tough, thousands of seeds must be released to produce one plant. To get rooted, these seeds must have exactly the right conditions. They can lie dormant for months, even years, until a little water stimulates the sparks of life.