Why are ephemeral plants important to animals in the Karakum Desert?

In the Karakum Desert, ephemeral plants are essential to the ecosystem because they serve as the primary source of animal fodder.1

These plants thrive during the humid conditions of early spring, growing rapidly to provide a vital nutritional resource for the desert's wildlife. By completing their life cycles quickly during these brief, favorable periods, they offer a critical food supply that supports various animals in an otherwise arid environment.12