Plant responses to heat stress
Water loss in plants has commonly been considered only as a cost of photosynthetic carbon gain. However, plants may use water in ways that may not necessarily optimize instantaneous carbon gain, but instead as a strategy for leaf evaporative cooling. The Dryland Plant Ecophysiology Lab and collaborators are assessing whether plant water use is not always a side-effect of carbon gain, but rather an active strategy to optimize leaf temperature to cope with thermal stress that is becoming more common with climate change.
The distinctive form and function of giant cactus
Giant cactus are among the most charismatic and iconic plant life forms on the planet, but many giant cactus species are threatened by the effects of climate change. The Dryland Plant Ecophysiology Lab and colleagues study the distinctive physiological features of giant cactus to better understand how they cope with long-term exposure to drought and heatwaves. A wide range of investigative tools are used to evaluate how these desert sentinels function and survive under stressful climate conditions.
Tree ecophysiology in dryland riparian ecosystems
Riparian forests are among the most threatened in North America as a consequence of altered hydrological conditions, invasive species and climate change.
Martin Luther King, Jr., An American Hero
Beloved American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. would have been 92 year old today, Jan. 15. The nation will officially celebrate the...
January Ecoflora Challenge | Seize the Cheese
Join the January EcoQuest: Seize the Cheese Cheeseweed, Malva Parviflora, is a somewhat low-growing forb that can form large, overtaking clumps,...
Recipe | Pumpkin Pup Biscuits
Fido shouldn’t be left out of all the extra time you have been spending in the kitchen. Give your pup a natural treat they will love with this...
Wind | Exhibition by the Numbers
Desert Botanical Garden’s newest art exhibition opens Jan. 1, 2021 and features large-scale living sculptures created by Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel...
Too Hot, Even for Monarchs
Lack of rain and hotter weather lead to record low butterfly season The monarch butterfly population is in decline. Due to their magnificent...
Activity | Simple Guide to Composting
This simple in-ground method to composting is minimal in cost and can easily kick-start your eco-conscious goals. Purchase a composting container...
