Diario del proyecto Metro Phoenix EcoFlora

08 de noviembre de 2022

EcoFlora Farewell For Now

Dear Neighborhood Naturalists,

As some of you may know, the EcoFlora program was developed by the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) to promote (1) biodiversity conservation in an increasingly urbanized world, (2) greater plant awareness among the public and (3) enhanced participation of community scientists in the study and conservation of biodiversity. The program launched in 2016 and saw great success! So much so that NYBG, in collaboration with four other botanical gardens, received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to scale up the EcoFlora program across the country.

The Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project began in February 2020 with funding from this grant to continue through October 2022. The past few years have been a wonderful experience, from building the project and sharing the wonders of urban biodiversity together, to creating species lists and publishing papers and everything in between.

For the time being, the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora is on pause while a new way forward is being navigated. You may contact Dr. Kim McCue at Desert Botanical Garden at kmccue@dbg.org for project updates and information.

Thank you to every project collaborator, Volunteers in the Garden (VIGs), and the Research and Conservation staff and Marketing Communications team at Desert Botanical Garden.

I know I've said this hundreds of times but thank you, Neighborhood Naturalists, for making the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora such a wonderful project. Without question, it would not be what it is without you! Be sure to check out the project summary and a new community science opportunity.

I would love to stay in touch and can be reached at jdavisdbg@gmail.com.

With so much gratitude and affection,
Jeny, EcoFlora Coordinator

Publicado el noviembre 8, 2022 03:24 MAÑANA por jenydavis jenydavis | 2 comentarios | Deja un comentario

09 de septiembre de 2022

Annual Community Survey

Neighborhood Naturalists, we need your input!⁣ 🤓

Do you enjoy being a part of the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora? Has the project increased your appreciation of plant life or understanding of urban biodiversity? Let us know with our annual survey.

Survey closes September 23.

📋⁣Take the survey.

Thank you for being part of the project!

Publicado el septiembre 9, 2022 03:46 MAÑANA por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

02 de septiembre de 2022

September 2022 EcoQuest: Tracking Tamarisk Beetles

Join the September EcoQuest: Tracking Tamarisk Beetles.
Join the EcoQuest


WHAT TO OBSERVE:
Find and map as many tamarisk beetles (larvae too!) (Diorhabda spp.) and tamarisk trees (Tamarix spp.) as possible.
Tamarisk beetles, or salt cedar beetles, are a small leaf beetles that are greenish to light tan in color, with four brown stripes running down their back. They are about the size of a ladybug. The larvae are very small and appear completely black in the earliest stage. The second and third stages are typically characterized by a long yellow stripe running down either side of their abdomen.

Find more photos and information here.



Tamarisk beetle observation by @kenziebell2.

Tamarisk beetles were released as a biological control for invasive tamarisk trees in 2001. The beetles and their larvae feed on the tree’s leaves, weakening them and reducing their ability to reproduce. Despite the beetles’ tree appetite, researchers believe it could take five to seven years of repeated feasting to kill tamarisk trees, depending on the location and micro-environmental factors. Although tamarisk beetles alone will not eliminate tamarisk trees, the goal is to help control their spread and give native plants and riparian habitat a chance to recover.
The beetles were not expected to survive Arizona’s arid climate, but they have expanded their range much faster and farther than predicted - bringing tricky ecological situations with them. Tamarisk trees may die off faster than intended, leaving native plants struggling to fill habitat fast enough and affecting the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii ectimus). Other potential issues include restoration challenges, destabilizing riparian banks, and the amount of standing dead trees. The beetles can assist with long-term recovery and resiliency of riparian communities, but it is important to acknowledge the potential challenges.

In early October 2021, EcoFlora project members made the first observations of tamarisk beetles in the metro Phoenix area on iNaturalist. The beetles had been observed by scientists in September, and Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project member @kenziebell2 was the first to observe them in the area on iNaturalist, followed by @kristen-c and @mchew6. The observations have nearly doubled over the past year. Can you help us find more?


The tamarisk beetle was tested by the US Department of Agriculture for more than 10 years to ensure that it would be effective and not feed on native plants or crops in the western United States. If you see the beetle or larvae feeding on plants that are not tamarisk, please email ecofloraphx@dbg.org.


Tamarisk beetle larvae observation by @kristen-c.


Observing tamarisk beetles and their larvae can contribute to the efforts of organizations that are tracking their range, activity, and phenology, such as RiversEdge West. Observing the tamarisk trees they feed on can also help us learn where they may move next.
Sources and more information:
RiversEdge West

Arizona Central





EcoQuests are month-long challenges that are part of the larger Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project. Learn more by visiting our website.
Look for project happenings, EcoQuest announcements and more in the newsletter, project journal and on social media.

Sign up for the newsletter, The Metro Phoenix Field Guide.
Let's be social on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.



Please do not observe indoor houseplants or pets.
For your own safety and the protection of plants and wildlife, do not trespass when making observations. Please follow all posted rules and guidelines in parks/preserves and do not enter private property.
Do not remove or move natural materials (plants, animals, rocks).
Respect wildlife (do not touch, feed, or disturb animals and keep a safe distance).
Observe COVID-19 Guidelines/Recommendations.
This is a great opportunity to observe and appreciate nature in our neighborhoods as we all navigate the complications of COVID-19. It is imperative that you follow COVID-19 guidelines/recommendations (wear a mask, practice physical distancing and wash your hands).

Do what’s best for you and your community.

For more COVID-19 information and guidelines, visit:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020/journal/31768-cnc-covid-19
https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/31664-exploring-nature-when-you-re-stuck-at-home
Arizona Office of Tourism: Responsible Recreation in AZ
https://tourism.az.gov/responsible-recreation-across-arizona
Publicado el septiembre 2, 2022 12:08 MAÑANA por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

30 de julio de 2022

August 2022 EcoQuest: Palms on Parade

Join the August EcoQuest: Palms on Parade.
Find and map as many palm trees as possible.
Join the EcoQuest
See them on iNaturalist.
WHAT TO OBSERVE:
Any and all palm trees (Family Arecaceae).





Palm trees have a long history in metro Phoenix and can be met with mixed sentiments. They are an iconic part of the landscape, but are not native and can consume considerable amounts of water. They have been planted for agricultural purposes, like date palms, and for landscaping and oasis resort vibes. Palms can be tricky to identify and can hybridize with one another! Currently, there are nine verifiable species of palm tree in metro Phoenix on iNaturalist, can you find more?



Palm tree fun fact: Arizona is said to have ONE native palm tree, the California fan palm( Washingtonia filifera. The single population grows in the Kofa National Wildlife refuge and is thought to have been started from seeds in bird or animal droppings.



If you see palm trees pruned like this, please know this is NOT a good pruning practice! Palm trees rely heavily on their fronds to make energy, and they typically only make a few fronds at a time. Some only make one to two new fronds a year! Removing living fronds can slow or stop a palm’s growth. Over-pruning palms also makes them less storm tolerant. In addition, climbing spikes should not be used to climb palms to prune them. Climbing spikes wound the palm tree which do not close, inviting insects and pests. If you must, only remove dead or discolored fronds, never living fronds. Do not remove fronds that have a horizontal or upward orientation.


Observing palm trees in metro Phoenix can help us understand their population and distribution, and we can potentially learn about their water use in our desert city.




EcoQuests are month-long challenges that are part of the larger Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project. Learn more by visiting our website.
Look for project happenings, EcoQuest announcements and more in the newsletter, project journal and on social media.

Sign up for the newsletter, The Metro Phoenix Field Guide.
Let's be social on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.



Please do not observe indoor houseplants or pets.
For your own safety and the protection of plants and wildlife, do not trespass when making observations. Please follow all posted rules and guidelines in parks/preserves and do not enter private property.
Do not remove or move natural materials (plants, animals, rocks).
Respect wildlife (do not touch, feed, or disturb animals and keep a safe distance).
Observe COVID-19 Guidelines/Recommendations.
This is a great opportunity to observe and appreciate nature in our neighborhoods as we all navigate the complications of COVID-19. It is imperative that you follow COVID-19 guidelines/recommendations (wear a mask, practice physical distancing and wash your hands).

Do what’s best for you and your community.

For more COVID-19 information and guidelines, visit:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020/journal/31768-cnc-covid-19
https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/31664-exploring-nature-when-you-re-stuck-at-home
Arizona Office of Tourism: Responsible Recreation in AZ
https://tourism.az.gov/responsible-recreation-across-arizona
Publicado el julio 30, 2022 07:57 TARDE por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

13 de julio de 2022

EcoQuestions with Mary Meyer


Join us at Desert BotanicalGarden for EcoQuestions and learn all about a new community engagement art project developed by Arizona artist Mary Meyer in collaboration with Metro Phoenix EcoFlora.

EcoQuestions with Mary Meyer
Wednesday, July 27 | 6:30 p.m. at Desert Botanical Garden
Find more information and register to attend for free: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/374596396907


In this session, Mary will share about her personal connection with leaves and their influence on her creative work, guide us through basic leaf botany, and provide information about The Leaf Connection Project. Mary will have examples of her work and there will be an opportunity to learn how to use the iNaturalist app and join the project.

The Leaf Connection project invites participants to use iNaturalist to share images of leaves within the urban desert of metro Phoenix. Select observations will be used to inform leaf designs for a large wall installation that carries hundreds of clay leaves that Mary will sculpt by hand. The installation will be mapped out to reflect the Phoenix metropolitan area and illustrate the diversity of plants and people in our desert home.

About Mary: Mary Meyer examines our human connection with nature and the environment using ceramic sculpture and mixed media wall installations. The work is driven by her interest in ecology and the myriad similarities between human and botanical anatomy. Arizona exhibitions include the Phoenix Art Museum, Tucson Museum of Art, Sky Harbor International Airport, and Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum which featured her 2019 solo exhibition Biophilia. Meyer is a recent Artist in Residence at Tempe Center for the Arts, and one of 12 artists selected to take part in the Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art (PhICA)Trajectory Print Project. Other awards include the Pat Mutterer Memorial Award presented at the 2020 Arizona Biennial (Tucson Museum of Art), the Night Bloom Grant (Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson)and the Contemporary Forum Artist Grant (Phoenix Art Museum). She has served as a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University and Scottsdale Community College, and teaches workshops for learning programs through Scottsdale Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Arizona where she received the MFA Fellowship. Meyer lives and works in Gold Canyon, AZ and is an active member of the Metro Phoenix art community. Her work is represented in public and private collections in the US and internationally.

Visit her website: www.marymeyerstudio.com
Follow on Instagram: marymeyerstudio, the.leaf.connection

This session coordinates with the July EcoQuest for the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora. This month, we're supporting The Leaf Connection Project.

Hope to see you there!

Publicado el julio 13, 2022 02:22 MAÑANA por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

01 de julio de 2022

July 2022 EcoQuest: The Leaf Connection

Join the July EcoQuest: The Leaf Connection.


Join the EcoQuest
Important: Be sure to include the hashtag #theleafconnection in the notes section of your observation.

WHAT TO OBSERVE:
Any kind of leaf, whether on the ground, trees, bushes, flowering plants, or other spaces in nature that catch your eye. Photograph the whole plant and a closeup of the leaf, if possible.




This month’s EcoQuest is in collaboration with local artist Mary Meyer.
Mary Meyer creates ceramic wall installations that examine the human connection with nature and the environment. The work is driven by her interest in ecology and the many similarities between human and botanical anatomy. She received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in fine arts from the University of Arizona, where she received the MFA Fellowship. Meyer lives and works in Gold Canyon, Arizona, and is an active member of the metro Phoenix art community. Her work is represented in public and private collections in the US and internationally.

Visit her website: www.marymeyerstudio.com
Follow on Instagram: marymeyerstudio, the.leaf.connection



The Leaf Connection is a new community engagement art project developed by Arizona artist Mary Meyer in collaboration with Metro Phoenix EcoFlora. This project invites participants to use iNaturalist to share images of leaves within the urban desert of metro Phoenix. Join the project for a chance to see your observation come to life. Select observations will be used to inform leaf designs for a large wall installation that will carry hundreds of clay leaves that Mary will sculpt by hand. The installation will be mapped out to reflect the Phoenix metropolitan area and illustrate the diversity of plants and people in our desert home. The purpose of this project is to foster community and connection through art, as well as bring awareness to our natural surroundings.


Mary Meyer. Biophilia (leaves) II. Porcelain, graphite, pigment, sewing needles, wood panel. 60x180x2,5 inches. Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum.





EcoQuests are month-long challenges that are part of the larger Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project. Learn more by visiting our website.
Look for project happenings, EcoQuest announcements and more in the newsletter, project journal and on social media.

Sign up for the newsletter, The Metro Phoenix Field Guide.
Let's be social on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.



Please do not observe indoor houseplants or pets.
For your own safety and the protection of plants and wildlife, do not trespass when making observations. Please follow all posted rules and guidelines in parks/preserves and do not enter private property.
Do not remove or move natural materials (plants, animals, rocks).
Respect wildlife (do not touch, feed, or disturb animals and keep a safe distance).
Observe COVID-19 Guidelines/Recommendations.
This is a great opportunity to observe and appreciate nature in our neighborhoods as we all navigate the complications of COVID-19. It is imperative that you follow COVID-19 guidelines/recommendations (wear a mask, practice physical distancing and wash your hands).

Do what’s best for you and your community.

For more COVID-19 information and guidelines, visit:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020/journal/31768-cnc-covid-19
https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/31664-exploring-nature-when-you-re-stuck-at-home
Arizona Office of Tourism: Responsible Recreation in AZ
https://tourism.az.gov/responsible-recreation-across-arizona
Publicado el julio 1, 2022 04:27 TARDE por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

06 de junio de 2022

June 2022 Events

🐞 JUNE EVENTS 🐞
As always, events and classes are FREE to attend!

EcoQuestions with Jordan Glass and Meredith Johnson
Wednesday, June 29 | 10:00 a.m. at Desert Botanical Garden

Join us for the very first in-person EcoQuestions with Arizona State University PhD candidates Jordan Glass and Meredith Johnson to learn about the amazing world of bees and lesser known pollinators.

Jordan Glass studies environmental physiology, specifically how insects function, interact with, and evolve to deal with environmental stressors, working in the lab of Dr. Jon F. Harrison. His thesis research focuses on the environmental physiology of honey bee flight, in particular how these important pollinators respond to temperature variation and agrochemicals that have been implicated in pollinator decline.

Meredith Johnson specializes in the thermal physiology and water balance of flying bees. In particular, she is passionate about conserving and understanding the solitary desert bees in her favorite genus - Centris. When Meredith is not collecting data in the Sonoran Desert, she can be found climbing in the McDowell mountains, identifying desert plants, or working on one of her insect illustrations.

Register for free: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ecoquestions-with-jordan-glass-and-meredith-johnson-tickets-358828444537

Publicado el junio 6, 2022 11:34 TARDE por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

31 de mayo de 2022

June 2022 EcoQuest: Unfamiliar Pollinators

Join the June EcoQuest: Unfamiliar Pollinators.
Find and map as many lesser-known insect pollinators as possible.
Join the EcoQuest
See the Guide

WHAT TO OBSERVE:
Any and all examples of the lesser-known insect pollinators such as native bees, wasps, flies, beetles and true bugs and the host or nectar plants on which you might find them.



This month’s EcoQuest is in collaboration with Jordan Glass and Meredith Johnson, Biology PhD candidates at Arizona State University.

Jordan Glass studies environmental physiology, specifically how insects function, interact with, and evolve to deal with environmental stressors, working in the lab of Dr. Jon F. Harrison. His thesis research focuses on the environmental physiology of honey bee flight, in particular how these important pollinators respond to temperature variation and agrochemicals that have been implicated in pollinator decline.

Meredith Johnson specializes in the thermal physiology and water balance of flying bees. In particular, she is passionate about conserving and understanding the solitary desert bees in her favorite genus - Centris. When Meredith is not collecting data in the Sonoran Desert, she can be found climbing in the McDowell mountains, identifying desert plants, or working on one of her insect illustrations.


You can contribute to our understanding of plant-insect relationships by noting which plant(s) these insects are visiting. Use the “Associated Species” or “Associated Observation” field (on the website) to add this information, or type it in the Notes section (on the app).



When it comes to pollinators, honey bees and butterflies often appear in most people’s minds, but native bees, wasps, flies, beetles, and true bugs also play a critical role in pollination. Arizona alone has an estimated 1,300 native bees!

Below are examples of lesser-known insect pollinators that you might find working in your yard, patio garden, or local park. How many can you find in this month’s EcoQuest?
Be sure to check out the accompanying guide to help you identify what you’re seeing.
See the Guide



Bees that aren’t honeybees
- leafcutter and mason bees (Megachile and Osmia spp.)
- bumblebees (pictured above; Bombus and Psithyrus spp.)
- sweat bees (Agapostemon, Augochlorella, and Halictus spp.)
- mining bees (Andrena and Perdita spp.)
- long-horned bees (Melissodes, Svastra, and Synhalonia spp.)
- squash bees (Peponapis and Xenoglossa spp.)
- carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.)
- yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus spp.)
- cuckoo bees (Nomada and Triepeolus spp.)
- digger bees (Centris spp.)



Wasps
- yellow paper wasps (Mischocyttarus flavitarsis)
- western yellow jacket (Vespula pensylvanica)
- Navajo paper wasp (Mischocyttarus Navajo)
- mud daubers (Scliphron caementarium)
- tarantula hawk (pictured above; Pepsis sp.)
- cicada killers (Sphecius grandis)

Photo by @thegardenhound.
Flies
- bee flies (pictured above; Bombylius and Systoechus spp.)
- hover flies (family Syrphidae)
- midges (family Ceratopogonidae)
- male mosquitos (family Culicidae)
- houseflies (family Muscidae)
- blowflies (family Calliphoridae)
- lovebugs (family Bibionidae)
- March flies (family Bibionidae)
- Crane fly (family Tipulidae)

Beetles
- blister beetles (family Meloidae)
- longhorned beetles (family Cerambycidae)
- scarabs (family Scarabaeidae)
- weevils (family Cuculionidae)
- ladybirds or ladybugs (pictured above; family Coccinellidae)
- fireflies (family Lampyridae)
- click beetles (family Elacteridae)

Photo by @ameeds.
True bugs
- stink bugs (family Pentatomidae)
- wheel bugs, leaf-footed bugs (pictured above; family Coreidae)
- bordered plant bug (family Largidae)
- assassin bugs (family Reduviidae)
- planthopper (family Delphacidae)
Observing lesser-known insect pollinators can increase our knowledge, understanding and appreciation of pollinators and can contribute to observation, population, and distribution information. Observing the plants these insects are visiting can also help us better understand these plant-insect relationships.


Let's celebrate Pollinator Week, June 20-26! Pollinator Week is an annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator health. This citizen science project is hosted annually by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign's (NAPPC) Urban Pollinator Taskforce.
In addition to this month's EcoQuest, we encourage you to join the Pollinator Week BioBlitz and make observations of any and all pollinators that you can find.

Sources and more information:
The A Bee Cs of Arizona’s Native Bees (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum)
Pollen Specialist Bees of the Western United States (Jarrod Fowler)
Pollinator Partnership
The Pollinator Partnership and collaborators have created a helpful guide for identifying common bee species. See it here.
Project member @thegardenhound has created PollinatorWeb, and we encourage you to check it out!



EcoQuests are month-long challenges that are part of the larger Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project. Learn more by visiting our website.
Look for project happenings, EcoQuest announcements and more in the newsletter, project journal and on social media.

Sign up for the newsletter, The Metro Phoenix Field Guide.
Let's be social on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.



Please do not observe indoor houseplants or pets.
For your own safety and the protection of plants and wildlife, do not trespass when making observations. Please follow all posted rules and guidelines in parks/preserves and do not enter private property.
Do not remove or move natural materials (plants, animals, rocks).
Respect wildlife (do not touch, feed, or disturb animals and keep a safe distance).
Observe COVID-19 Guidelines/Recommendations.
This is a great opportunity to observe and appreciate nature in our neighborhoods as we all navigate the complications of COVID-19. It is imperative that you follow COVID-19 guidelines/recommendations (wear a mask, practice physical distancing and wash your hands).

Do what’s best for you and your community.

For more COVID-19 information and guidelines, visit:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020/journal/31768-cnc-covid-19
https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/31664-exploring-nature-when-you-re-stuck-at-home
Arizona Office of Tourism: Responsible Recreation in AZ
https://tourism.az.gov/responsible-recreation-across-arizona
Publicado el mayo 31, 2022 02:49 TARDE por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

03 de mayo de 2022

May 2022 Events

🌵 MAY EVENTS 🌵
As always, events and classes are FREE to attend!




ECOQUESTIONS with DR. TANIA HERNANDEZ
Thursday, May 12 | 12:00 p.m. MST
Join us for EcoQuestions with Dr. Tania Hernandez, New World Succulents Research Scientist at Desert Botanical Garden, to learn all about the Saguaro Census and how you can help! The Saguaro Census is the first step to generate a database to monitor the urban saguaro population in the metro Phoenix, learn more about their health and research the effects climate change might have on them.
EcoQuestions are presentations and Q&A sessions with scientists, experts or community members focused on the monthly EcoQuest topic.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/320963589737




NATIONAL CACTUS DAY
Tuesday, May 10
What would Arizona be without cactus? Celebrate our prickly friends by wearing your best cactus outfit or accessories and tag us on social @ecofloraphx. Winners will receive cool cactus themed prizes, including Saguaro Census stickers! Also, If you happen to find yourself at Desert Botanical Garden for National Cactus Day, stop by Ullman Terrace (by the Patio Café) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and chat with Dr. Tania Hernandez and Jeny Davis about the Saguaro Census. Everyone who signs up for the Census will walk away with cactus themed goodies.
Publicado el mayo 3, 2022 08:45 TARDE por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

29 de abril de 2022

May 2022 EcoQuest: Saguaro Census

Join the May EcoQuest: Saguaro Census.
Join the Saguaro Census

Interested in volunteering for a more active role in the Saguaro Census? View this training guide and join the Volunteer Saguaro Census project.

WHAT TO OBSERVE:
Find and map as many saguaros (Carnegia gigantea) in urban areas as possible!
We encourage you to go the extra mile and make notes about their size, number of arms, health and where they are located. Is it tall with three arms and looks full of water? Is it in a commercial area and looks brown? Let us know!
See this training video for help or use the handy Getting Started Guide.

Lookout! There’s a saguaro look-alike in the Valley: the cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei).
See photos for comparison here.



This month’s EcoQuest is in collaboration with the Saguaro Census.

During the summer of 2020, the metro Phoenix area recorded its hottest summer ever. There were numerous reports of saguaros losing arms or falling throughout the Valley. Why did this happen? Was this related to climate change? Are we eventually going to lose all our urban saguaros? These cactus are highly cherished in Arizona, and the possibility of losing them is a deep concern among many people. Several theories were discussed, mostly related to the increasing heat and lack of rain. The Desert Botanical Garden’s Research Department tried to answer as best as it could, however, there is not enough research to completely understand what is happening with these iconic plants and whether it is directly linked to climate change.

To look for answers, the Saguaro Census counts and documents saguaros in metro Phoenix. This is the first step to generate a database to monitor the saguaro population in the Valley, learn more about their health and research the effects climate change might have on them. This includes location information, notes and pictures of the plants in the city, so they can be can monitored them into the future. Working with Desert Botanical Garden, people can contribute to a real-life community science project.

The Saguaro Census is part of a larger project led by Dr. Hernandez, Desert Botanical Garden’s New World Succulents Specialist. The project seeks to understand the biology, distribution and genetics of the urban saguaro population by comparing them with their relatives growing in the wild. The project will also be used to develop tools to understand and preserve endangered cactus species in the Southwest with substantial community involvement.

"Urban areas are heat islands. Plants growing in cities are under serious heat stress — several degrees higher than in the wild. If saguaros in the city are dying now, do we expect this to happen to wild saguaros under future climate change? We can start planting saguaros brought from drier and hotter regions to better adapt our urban saguaro population to withstand future climatic conditions,” says Dr. Hernandez, “This is a great opportunity to study plant responses to heat and stress. Saguaro plants in the city are a climate change experiment, which would be impossible to generate artificially.”

The Saguaro Census is in collaboration with the Metro Phoenix EcoFlora and the Save Our Saguaros project, led by Girl Scout Gold Award recipient Ella Werre.

“People from the Phoenix area care so much about saguaros because they are part of our identity as Arizonans. I'm really excited to work on this project to make real change happen. I did my Girl Scout project in the hopes that the data I was collecting could be utilized by real scientists to help saguaros in the Phoenix area. Small steps, like using your smartphone to document saguaros in your area on iNaturalist, can lead to big changes in the quest for answers on saguaro health,” says Were.

Together, we can improve our understanding of saguaros and develop tools to adapt our urban plants to the hotter conditions we will face in the future.


Observing urban saguaros in metro Phoenix is the first step to generate a database to monitor the population in the Valley, learn more about their health and research the effects climate change might have on them. The data collected in this EcoQuest will contribute to future studies including sampling urban saguaros and learning more about their genetics.

WE NEED YOUR SAGUARO! If you have a saguaro growing on your property and are willing to allow DBG to study it, please email Dr. Hernandez at thernandez@dbg.org.


PRIVACY GUIDELINES
When making observations, please be mindful of private property and do not trespass..



Sources and more information:
The Saguaro Census
Why Desert Botanical Garden is Studying Urban Saguaros
Desert Botanical Garden Launches First-Ever Urban Saguaro Census
Save Our Saguaros Brochure
Save Our Saguaros Gold Award Project Website


About Dr. Tania Hernandez
Tania Hernandez is a Desert Botanical Garden research scientist specializing in succulent plants, particularly agave and cactus. The work in her lab is motivated by an interest to understand how and when these plants originated and how they evolved their adaptations to withstand water scarcity. Born and raised in central Mexico, Dr. Hernandez has been surrounded and astonished by cactus diversity all her life. What she finds more interesting is how these plants are modified from a common plan seen in most other plants, and then diversified into hundreds of species. The magnitude of these modifications has no equal in any other living lineage. Under her recent appointment at the Garden, Dr. Hernandez is working on developing genomics tools applied to better understand and preserve agave and cactus biodiversity.

About Save Our Saguaros: A Girl Scout Gold Award Project
Ella Were has been a Girl Scout for twelve years. As a culmination of the time and passion she has put into the program, she strove to complete her Gold Award, a service-based award that is the highest level of achievement in Girl Scouts. For her project, she was inspired by the death of a saguaro in her front yard, an event that surprised her, as it had seemingly been in good health. Working with Jeny Davis, EcoFlora Coordinator at Desert Botanical Garden as her project mentor, she put together a brochure and a website in hopes of helping the public understand more about this iconic symbol of Arizona. Using iNaturalist, she created a place where people can document saguaros in the urban Phoenix area to provide scientists with a more accurate look at population and general saguaro health in metro Phoenix.

About Desert Botanical Garden
An Arizona icon for more than 80 years, Desert Botanical Garden is a living museum of more than 50,000 plants. Founded in 1939, the Garden is a premier institution focused on education, exhibition, research and conservation of desert plants of the world, with an emphasis on the Sonoran Desert. A Phoenix Point of Pride, the Garden’s 140-acre site is distinguished by its robust collection of cactus and agave plants, as well as its scope and excellence of its programs in education, horticulture, plant research and conservation. Learn more at dbg.org.





EcoQuests are month-long challenges that are part of the larger Metro Phoenix EcoFlora project. Learn more by visiting our website.
Look for project happenings, EcoQuest announcements and more in the newsletter, project journal and on social media.

Sign up for the newsletter, The Metro Phoenix Field Guide.
Let's be social on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.



Please do not observe indoor houseplants or pets.
For your own safety and the protection of plants and wildlife, do not trespass when making observations. Please follow all posted rules and guidelines in parks/preserves and do not enter private property.
Do not remove or move natural materials (plants, animals, rocks).
Respect wildlife (do not touch, feed, or disturb animals and keep a safe distance).
Observe COVID-19 Guidelines/Recommendations.
This is a great opportunity to observe and appreciate nature in our neighborhoods as we all navigate the complications of COVID-19. It is imperative that you follow COVID-19 guidelines/recommendations (wear a mask, practice physical distancing and wash your hands).

Do what’s best for you and your community.

For more COVID-19 information and guidelines, visit:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020/journal/31768-cnc-covid-19
https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/31664-exploring-nature-when-you-re-stuck-at-home
Arizona Office of Tourism: Responsible Recreation in AZ
https://tourism.az.gov/responsible-recreation-across-arizona
Publicado el abril 29, 2022 07:17 TARDE por jenydavis jenydavis | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario