Articles tagged with Cacti
A new open access database of cactus ecology and evolution could help scientists and conservationists save species from the brink. The CactEcoDB offers an unprecedented window into the evolution, ecology and conservation needs of one of the world's most distinctive and endangered plant families.
A University of Utah geologist used earthquake-monitoring tools to analyze how towering saguaro cacti respond to wind and ground motion without harm. The study found that saguaros' resonance frequencies vary widely across their height, with stiffness near the bottom and flexibility at the top.
Researchers found that cactus diversity is driven by temperature range, sand content in the soil, and seasonal changes. Mexico has the highest biodiversity but lowest rate of speciation due to slower extinction rates.
A new study reveals that the protective effect of income has largely eroded in affluent neighborhoods over the past 40 years. This means that even if residents have more wealth, they won't be able to enjoy cooler temperatures as climate change worsens.
A new study published in Conservation Physiology identifies the critical limits of plant function under stress, enabling more effective conservation strategies. By understanding these limits, conservationists can identify vulnerable species and allocate resources more wisely.
Researchers tracked medium ground finches' movements day and night, finding they cover areas equivalent to 30 soccer fields and gather nightly in a lush grove. This behavior helps birds fight cold and reduces predation risk.
A study by UC Davis finds that ground-mounted solar energy development in the Mojave Desert harms native plants, including cacti and Mojave yucca, culturally significant to indigenous tribes. Management options like 'halos' can conserve these species, but developing solar energy on undeveloped lands is more sustainable.
Researchers discovered that Sonora cactus pads undergo complex microscale, seasonal and age-related wettability changes. This unique characteristic is now being applied to develop smart materials for hazmat suits, which will preserve water while allowing vapor and heat transfer.
Scientists have developed a material that mimics cactus roots' ability to absorb and retain vast amounts of water with minimal evaporation. The material, called CRIM, can absorb water nearly 930 times faster than it loses through evaporation.
The study found that the giant saguaro, organ pipe, senita, and cardón have scrambled family relationships due to long generation times. However, some similarities like succulent flesh were retained by some cacti through ancient genes.
The international trade of threatened cacti on the Internet is unregulated and poses a threat to species survival. A study found that many online stores sell these plants without proper documentation, indicating a need for regulation and education.
Climate effects of major eruptions deliver 'just right' conditions for vulnerable saguaro seedlings. A study by biogeographer Taly Drezner found that distant volcanic paroxysms fostered population growth in the Sonoran Desert.
Researchers have found that cactus mucilage can effectively clean contaminated water for farmed fish, drinking water, and other uses. The mucilage attracts sediments, bacteria, and contaminants, forming a large mass or 'floc' that precipitates rapidly, making it an attractive alternative to current methods.
Thirty-one percent of cactus species are threatened with extinction, primarily due to the illegal trade of live plants and seeds. Key threats include unsustainable harvesting and smallholder livestock ranching, affecting 47% of threatened species.
Analysis of North American prickly pear cacti species shows widespread hybrid origin, likely resulting from western and southeastern US parental species hybridization. Genome duplication contributed to the distribution pattern seen today.
Researchers propose that a prolonged dry spell and lower atmospheric carbon dioxide levels drove the rise of cacti and other succulents, leading to rapid speciation between 5-10 million years ago. This coincided with species explosions in other plant groups, including C4 grasses, which burst onto the scene during the same time period.
A team led by Fabiola Parra has successfully traced the domesticated Gray Ghost Organ Pipe (Stenocereus pruinosus) to its living ancestral species in Mexico's Tehuacán Valley. Genetic analysis reveals evidence of artificial selection, increasing genetic diversity among cacti grown using traditional methods.
A rare mutualistic relationship between a moth and cactus in the Sonoran Desert shows that one species can control the population of the other, challenging traditional ecological theory. The research has implications for understanding community ecology and the stability of mutualistic communities.
University of Arizona mathematicians have developed models to reproduce fingerprint patterns and explain the arrangement of repeated units in plants. The research found that patterns in nature, such as those seen in fingerprints and cacti, are influenced by forces imposed during ridge formation.