Describe how animals and plants are adapted to survive in dry conditions such as deserts. For each adaptation explain how this helps them survive. (6 marks)

There are many ways that animals are adapted to live in dry conditions. First, a decrease in surface area reduces water loss by minimising sweating. They may also have long eyelashes to keep dust out of the eyes. They are often nocturnal, meaning that they are awake at night, which is cooler and minimizes sweat loss.

Plants also have many adaptations to dry conditions. Plants like cactuses have spiky leaves that reduce surface area and this minimises water loss. They also have long, wide-spread roots to maximise water absorption, and thick, wide stems which means they can store more water.