Climate Crisis Could Threaten More Than Half of Cactus Species With Extinction

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The iconic saguaro cactus of the American Southwest may evince an image of a lonely figure in the desert, cylindrical arms stretched out and upward toward the sky in a friendly and somewhat lonely wave. But there are many other species of cactus — more than 1,500 — and not all of them thrive in arid conditions; some live in the mountains, coastal areas and even in tropical rainforests.

A team of researchers at the University of Arizona hypothesized that, since cacti adapt well to dry and hot conditions, they might thrive in the increasingly warmer climates that some regions are experiencing due to the climate crisis.

Their new study, “Elevated extinction risk of cacti under climate change,” considered how three different global warming scenarios could affect the range of 408 species of cactus, reported The New York Times. The researchers found that global warming could mean a higher risk of extinction for 60 percent of cactus species by the middle of the century. The study was published in the journal Nature Plants.

Climate Crisis Could Threaten More Than Half of Cactus Species With Extinction - EcoWatch

 

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Here is another relevant article.

Cactuses are struggling to beat the heat: 3 stories you may have missed

1. Even the cactus may not be safe from climate change

In a warming world, cactuses may not be able to beat the heat.

The story: Cactuses may seem impervious to the threat of climate change — after all, many of them thrive in extreme heat. However, a new study — co-authored by Conservation International scientist Patrick Roehrdanz — shows that global warming could put 60 percent of cactus species at greater risk of extinction by 2050, reports Raymond Zhong for The New York Times.

Cactuses are struggling to beat the heat: 3 stories you may have missed