Diel temperature fluctuations in arid environments also present a unique hurdle for pioneering organisms to overcome. Extremely high daytime temperatures can cause lethal desiccation in plant species. After dusk, near or below freezing temperatures can freeze and lyse plant cells. Hot deserts typically experience diel temperature ranges from 0 C to 37 C, while cold deserts such as those in Greenland, can fluctuate from as little as 0 C to 4 C. The Hopq Desert in China experiences minimum temperatures below 30 C and high temperatures above 40 C (Wang et al., 2013).