Prominent Producers
Saguaro Cactus: Iconic of the Sonoran desert, the saguaro cactus is famed for its long, reaching arms and is critical to the Sonoran desert ecosystem. The cactus acts as a food source for the woodpecker and then various small birds will make homes out of the hole left behind. Its arms are also used as nests or hunting perches for larger birds such as the Red-Tailed Hawks It has been known to live over 200 years. Considering it can grow over 40 in tall, the Saguaro cactus has surprisingly shallow roots with most only having a depth of 4-6 in. To compensate for the dry environment, the saguaro cactus has developed ribs that store water and allow the cactus to survive through the dry seasons.
Ironwood (tree): Ironwood is one of the largest and longest-lived Sonoran Desert plants, reaching 45 feet in height and living as long as 1,500 years. Ironwood provides shade and protection for vulnerable plants that inhabit the Sonoran Desert, as the temperature may be up to 15 degrees cooler under an ironwood tree than in the open desert. It also serves as food for animals and insects and is a home for over 150 species of bird.
Plants: Seed eating ants will have colonies near plants so they can sustain themselves.
Leaves: Butterflies and moths leave their eggs on the back of leaves so they are able to grow and develop.
Ironwood (tree): Ironwood is one of the largest and longest-lived Sonoran Desert plants, reaching 45 feet in height and living as long as 1,500 years. Ironwood provides shade and protection for vulnerable plants that inhabit the Sonoran Desert, as the temperature may be up to 15 degrees cooler under an ironwood tree than in the open desert. It also serves as food for animals and insects and is a home for over 150 species of bird.
Plants: Seed eating ants will have colonies near plants so they can sustain themselves.
Leaves: Butterflies and moths leave their eggs on the back of leaves so they are able to grow and develop.
Consumers
Bees: They eat the nectar of the desert wildflowers for energy and spread the pollen of the plant so it may grow in more locations.
Coyotes: They scavenge the dead carcasses of other animals so waste does not build up and prevent carbon from being recycled back into the ecosystem.
Javelina: Similar to a pig, the Javelina is an important a food source for carnivores and consumes cacti and fruit.
Coyotes: They scavenge the dead carcasses of other animals so waste does not build up and prevent carbon from being recycled back into the ecosystem.
Javelina: Similar to a pig, the Javelina is an important a food source for carnivores and consumes cacti and fruit.
Abiotic Factors
Soil: The soil commonly found is alkaline which allows the desert plants grow and gain nutrients through the ground more effectively.
Temperature: Predators are able to hunt for longer stretches of time in cooler temperatures and often rest in the shade in preparation of hunting in warmer temperatures.
Sand Dunes: Prevents soil erosion by storing sand that replaces the eroded sand below it so that the total amount of sand in an area does not decrease.
Temperature: Predators are able to hunt for longer stretches of time in cooler temperatures and often rest in the shade in preparation of hunting in warmer temperatures.
Sand Dunes: Prevents soil erosion by storing sand that replaces the eroded sand below it so that the total amount of sand in an area does not decrease.