Plants form the basic foundation of food webs and support other life forms. Native plants have unique adaptations for living in desert environments. The vegetation can influence the kinds of animals that are attracted to the area.
Vegetation can be a sensitive indicator of change in local or regional environments.
The items most commonly found in a schoolyard include grass, trees, shrubs, cacti, and ground cover. Vegetation tells us about other environmental factors such as nutrient or water availability. Differences between residential areas and desert remnants tells us about human behavior and decisions to alter the landscape. There may be many factors that help to explain why certain types of vegetation are planted in particular areas. Identifying non-native vegetation contributes to understanding similarities and differences between animal populations in desert remnants and residential areas.