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Symbiosis within the Barrel Cactus
The Barrel Cactus, a member of the genus cacti and subfamily of Cactoideae, can be found in the Southwest Dessert of North America or the "Sonoran Desert." It can grow up to eleven feet tall with very spiky spines. A puncture to the human skin by one of the spines can result in severe pain and leave a "dirty wound."This species of cactus is capable of storing 500 kilograms of water and can live up to 100 years. I took this picture on March 29th, 2017 to document the progress it had made since I purchased it from Home Depot in late February. One of the most interesting aspects of the Barrel Cactus is its mutualistic symbiotic relationship it shares with the desert mouse. The cactus provides shelter and shade for the mouse, while the mouse eats the predators of the cactus. Both greatly benefit from this type of relationship.
Symbiosis within the Barrel Cactus
The Barrel Cactus, a member of the genus cacti and subfamily of Cactoideae, can be found in the Southwest Dessert of North America or the "Sonoran Desert." It can grow up to eleven feet tall with very spiky spines. A puncture to the human skin by one of the spines can result in severe pain and leave a "dirty wound."This species of cactus is capable of storing 500 kilograms of water and can live up to 100 years. I took this picture on March 29th, 2017 to document the progress it had made since I purchased it from Home Depot in late February. One of the most interesting aspects of the Barrel Cactus is its mutualistic symbiotic relationship it shares with the desert mouse. The cactus provides shelter and shade for the mouse, while the mouse eats the predators of the cactus. Both greatly benefit from this type of relationship.