Trees don’t grow in deserts (e.g., Sahara). Why? – The answer to this question is based on a particular combination of evolutionary history, physiology and ecology.
Do you agree with this statement?
Could you explain your point of view?
[I’m a Brazilian biologist and writer. I write about science (mainly about population biology) and would like to know the opinion of colleagues from any field of scientific knowledge (and from other countries).]
See also Habitat, environment and ecological niche (https://www.researchgate.net/post/Habitat_environment_and_ecological_niche).
The relative absence of vegetation in the Sahara is partly due to overgrazing by domestic animals. Have a look at the satellite view of Sidi Toui National Park, Tunisia:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.708865,11.2060563,12115m/data=!3m1!1e3
This part of the Sahara is surrounded by a fence, and no domestic animals are let in (but the endemic ungulate Scimitar Oryx is living and grazing here). This part of the Sahara is an arid grassland, scattered with some trees:
https://placesmap.net/TN/Sidi-Toui-National-Park-22612/
Cheers,
Lajos
A scaling issue is involved. In all (climatic) sand and rock deserts travelled, I have observed growing trees. Less so in (edaphic) salt deserts. By specifying 'Sahara' we know large continental expenses are considered. A treeless, moving-sand dune surface of a few square km is probably not considered to be a desert, although these are common and known locally under toponyms meaning desert.
In other words, a desert can be defined/measured by (i) tree density (number/unit area) and extent.
In désert the incendies are rarissime, in contraste to forest and savanna.
So, if the tree's roots are find the resources of water, the life is assured. And in désert no exist concourant.
Many tree species grow in deserts, for example, Yucca brevifolia and Acacia species
The relative absence of vegetation in the Sahara is partly due to overgrazing by domestic animals. Have a look at the satellite view of Sidi Toui National Park, Tunisia:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.708865,11.2060563,12115m/data=!3m1!1e3
This part of the Sahara is surrounded by a fence, and no domestic animals are let in (but the endemic ungulate Scimitar Oryx is living and grazing here). This part of the Sahara is an arid grassland, scattered with some trees:
https://placesmap.net/TN/Sidi-Toui-National-Park-22612/
Cheers,
Lajos
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