Damage in a saguaro ( Carnegiea gigantea ) population in the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, Mexico

A first-of-its-kind study reveals widespread damage to saguaro cacti (Carnegiea gigantea) populations within the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. The research identified seven types of damage, with 'shell' being the most prevalent (91% of individuals) followed by 'cactus cortical scaling' (CCS), or epidermal browning (73%). Notably, CCS was linked to significant tissue composition changes and stomata distribution alterations, compromising photosynthetic function. While 89.2% of saguaros were moderately damaged and 7.5% highly damaged, only 3.3% remained undamaged. The study highlights the urgent need for long-term conservation strategies due to the species' prolonged life cycle, exacerbated by climate change and increased UV exposure.

Jiménez‐Sierra, C. L., Arroyo‐Pérez, E., Matias‐Palafox, M. L., Torres‐Orozco, D., Burgos‐Solorio, A., Quintanar‐Isaías, A., González‐Adán, M. d. l. Á., & Vázquez‐Quesada, B. (2023). Damage in a saguaro ( Carnegiea gigantea ) population in the El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, Mexico. Plant Species Biology, 38(6), 319–331. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/1442-1984.12434