Cacti Are Severely Threatened by Drought in a Warming World

Climate change is coming for the cactus. Yes, the cactus.

One-quarter of nearly 1,000 cactus species could lose at least 80 percent of their habitat by 2100 due to relentless droughts.

Even cacti are severely threatened in a warmer, drier world

Findings from a study spanning the Americas show that climate change forecasts are underestimating threats to biodiversity—even to exceptionally resilient species—by not factoring in extreme weather events that become more likely in a warmer world.

Cacti are severely threatened by drought in a warming world

Forecasts of the effects that climate change will have on biodiversity typically rely on long-term climate averages while excluding extreme events. Projections that include severe drought predict that a majority of the 993 cactus species assessed will see large losses of suitable climatic area: more than 25% of species could lose at least 80% of it by 2100. Models that ignore extreme events might underestimate the dangers of climate change for t…

Even Cacti Are Threatened by Heat and Drought From Global Warming

A new study finds that those factors could shrink the suitable habitat for many of nature's hardiest plants. By Kiley Price Cacti are among the toughest plants on the planet, withstanding scorching temperatures and parched conditions that would wilt a more sensitive sprout. But climate change may threaten these hardy plants more than previously thought, a new study suggests.