Century-old Cacti in arizona are collapsing due to extreme heat

Question

With no summer monsoon rains, saguaro cactus' ability to survive is being tested as temperatures soared above 110 degrees for 25 days in Phoenix.

Answer 1

Saguaro cacti at the Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona have been collapsing due to heat-related stress. Arizona has been experiencing record-high temperatures. Because cacti carry out their essential functions at night, taking in carbon dioxide used for photosynthesis, the heat renders them unable. As a result, the cacti are being suffocated and dehydrated. This in turn lowers their ability to fight off infections and insects.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/us/phoenix-arizona-heat-saguaro-cactuses/index.html

Comments

The additional news article showed that Saguaro cacti in Arizona are dying due to the extreme heat. It also helped with the explanation on how and why the cacti are dying.

---

Thank you for this comment! The explanation on extreme heat was super helpful. We're officially entering into global boiling!

Answer 2

It's True. Plant physiologists studying the saguaro cacti at Phoenix's Desert Botanical Garden have found that the intense heat waves and drought conditions in Arizona are causing the cacti, particularly the older, larger ones, to lose their structure and collapse due to water-filled molecules in their skin draining away. Additionally, the cacti are at increased risk due to wildfires, which are more frequent due to higher temperatures and invasive grasses.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/26/saguaro-cactus-dying-arizona-heat-reuters/70470713007/#:~:text='Sentinel%20of%20Southwest'%3A%20Saguaro,collapsing%2C%20dying%20in%20Arizona%20heat&text=Arizona's%20saguaro%20cacti%2C%20a%20symbol,the%20state%2C%20plant%20researchers%20say.

Comments

It looks like your source link is the same as the one used for the claim. It's best to find another source besides what's already been used in the claim to further bolster your stance on the claim for future fact-checks. Thanks!

Answer 3

Saguaro cacti are able to withstand an impressive amount of heat, but the heat wave in Arizona has pushed past their capabilities. The cacti need to be able to cool off, either at night or through rain/mist, otherwise internal damage is sustained, but summer rains never made it to Arizona. "Plants now suffering from prolonged, excessive heat may take months or years to die," commented Tania Hernandez from Desert Botanical Garden. 

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/saguaro-cacti-collapsing-arizona-extreme-heat-scientist-says-2023-07-25/

Answer 4

With the lack of rain and extremely high temperatures this summer, saguaro cacti have become stressed. Because of high temperatures at night, the saguaros suffocate and become stressed causing them to dehydrate. Dehydration can make the saguaros more susceptible to infections. All of the heat-related stress the cacti are experiencing can cause them to collapse. The saguaro cacti are at their limit with the constant high temperatures.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/us/phoenix-arizona-heat-saguaro-cactuses/index.html

Comments

Good description of how the extreme heat is taking its toll on the cacti. Also, great source.