Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea, Cactaceae) growth rate over its American range and the link to summer precipitation

摘要

Using an index of saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) growth rate, relative growth was compared among multiple saguaro populations and mapped across the American range of the species. Relative growth at 10 sites was strongly linked to summer precipitation. This is the first study of relative growth and the first to link growth rate to environmental variables in multiple populations.