Is a saguaro cactus an organism?
Background. The saguaro cactus, Carnegiea gigantea, is the largest cactus in the U.S., commonly reaching 40 feet in height. It has been written that the saguaro can be ecologically connected to nearly every other organism in its range, including humans.
Is a saguaro cactus a producer?
Desert Biome Food Web The producers are the saguaro cactus, prickly pear cactus, fluff grass, and the velvet mesquite .
Why would the saguaro be considered a keystone species in its ecosystem?
The saguaro is a keystone species that provides food and shelter for many desert animals. The fruits ripen during the peak of drought in the early summer and are about the only moist food source for many birds, mammals, and insects during this part of the year. Saguaros make excellent nesting places for many birds.
What type of reproduction is saguaro cactus?
The Saguaro cactus is the type of plant that requires cross pollination in order to reproduce. Saguaros can produce up to 40,000 seeds in their lifetime, but only one seed will live long enough to produce a new cactus; this is due to predation, drought and temperature extremes.
What kind of climate does the saguaro cactus live in?
The saguaro is a long-lived cactus, most affected by long-term climate cycles of frost and drought. In actual- ity, the saguaro is a common plant in the Sonoran Desert, not an endan- gered species.
Why are saguaro cacti so important to animals?
Saguaro cacti also provide a valuable source of food for animals. In late summer, ripening fruit provides mois- ture and an energy-rich food during a time of scarcity.
Is the saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert endangered?
The saguaro is a common plant in the Sonoran Desert, and is not an endangered species. The biggest threats to its current status are anthropogenic: loss of habitat and exotic-plant introduction.
What did the Hohokam Indians use the saguaro cactus for?
Archeological evidence indicates that the Hohokam people of the modern-day Tucson area used the saguaro in their daily lives. For the present-day Tohono O’odham, believed to be descendants of the Hohokam, the saguaro is a sacred plant, used for both ceremony and sustenance. Saguaros are slow-growing.