Far from being barren wastelands, deserts are biologically rich habitats with a vast array of animals and plants that have adapted to the harsh conditions there. Some deserts are among the planet ...

the Oldupai region was dominated by semi-desert plains. Analyses of sediments and fossil pollen show sparse vegetation, ...

and semi-desert scrub — that support native species of plantain, the butterlfly's primary larval host plant. This checkerspot can also can be found at the lower edge of the chaparral, in desert ...