Desert springs in Death Valley
Groundwater reaching the surface forms springs that support habitats within a dry landscape. Some pupfish populations occupy only a few springs.
A desert is not uniformly lifeless or waterless. Small wetland habitats can have high ecological value and be sensitive to abstraction, contamination and changing water supply.
Saved on this browser. An example’s listed role does not certify that it covers every specification dimension.
Evidence and its scope
| Claim | Period and scope | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NPS monitors springs to understand changes in water quality and quantity and inform resource management. | NPS account updated October 2021 | Open source |
Possible requirement roles
- An ecosystem and its managementIdentify the ecosystem’s scale and processes.; Explain interactions and human pressures.; Do not attribute every change to a single cause.
- Water supply and securityDefine the supply area and period.; Connect physical availability, demand and infrastructure.; Evaluate financial, energy, ecological and distributional effects.
Recall the evidence
Case-recall questions load here. The sourced evidence remains available below.
Practise using the evidence
Apply a related skill
Mean, median and range · Scatter plots · Source evaluation
Related lessons
Ecosystems: energy, nutrients and disturbance · Hot deserts: water, adaptation and development
Build a better answer
Use a fresh resource to practise selecting evidence and explaining its significance.