Will the iconic saguaro cactus start to disappear from parts of the Southwest?
Krol DU. 2020. Will the iconic saguaro cactus start to disappear from parts of the Southwest?. The Arizona Republic. Arizona. 18 Jun 2020. 8 pages
Saguaro growth is changing in its native habitat as a result of rising temperatures and human caused changes to landscape. A NPS study published in 2018 using long-term data collection of more than 475 citizen scientists at Saguaro National Park found that seedlings and juvenile saguaros have been on the decline since 1990. Biologic growth competition from invasive grasses such as buffelgrass and stinknet can inhibit survival of saguaro seedlings. Invasive grasses also increase potential of wildfire damage and death of saguaros. Climate changes and human activities such as wood cutting and cattle ranching also affect viability or presence of nurse plants which are crucial to early survivability of saguaros. Cultural connections within Tohono O'Odham communities are strong, with origin stories and use of the saguaro fruit described.
- Type
- Newspaper Article
- Authors
- Krol, Debra
- Date of Issue
- 2020-06-18
- Publisher
- https://www.azcentral.com/
- Units
- SAGU
- Keywords
- Boyce Thompson Arboretum, buffelgrass, citizen science, climate change, Desert Botanical Garden, drought, invasive plants, microenvironments, National Phenology Network, nurse trees, photosynthesis, saguaro, Saguaro National Park, Sonoran Desert, stinknet, Tohono O'Odham, urban heat island, wildfires
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Desert Communities , NPS.gov Subject Site: Deserts