How Did Cactuses Evolve

FLORA AND FAUNA

Neoraimondia herzogiana, a member of the leafless, stem-succulent Cactoideae, growing in central Bolivia.

by Staff Writers
Chicago IL (SPX) May 15, 2006
In a groundbreaking new study in the June issue of American Naturalist, Erika J. Edwards (Yale University and University of California, Santa Barbara) and Michael J. Donoghue (Yale University) explore how leafy, "normal" plants evolved into the leafless succulent cactus.

"The cactus form is often heralded as a striking example of the tight relationship between form and function in plants," write the authors. "A succulent, long-lived photosynthetic system allows cacti to survive periods of extreme drought while maintaining well-hydrated tissues."

Recent molecular phylogenetic work has confirmed that Pereskia, a genus that consists of 17 species of leafy shrubs and trees, is where the earliest cactus lineages began. Using field studies and environmental modeling, Edwards and Donoghue found that the Pereskia species already showed water use patterns that are similar to the leafless, stem-succulent cacti.

"[Our] analyses suggest that several key elements of cactus ecological function were established prior to the evolution of the cactus life form," explain the authors. "Such a sequence may be common in evolution, but it has rarely been documented as few studies have incorporated physiological, ecological, anatomical, and phylogenetic data."

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
University of Chicago
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

FLORA AND FAUNA

Farmers And Animals Join Protest Against Bears In France

Bagneres-De-Bigorre, France, (AFP) May 13, 2006
Accompanied by donkeys, cows and sheep, some 5,000 people marched in this southwestern French town Saturday in protest against the release of brown bears into the nearby Pyrenees mountains.

ENERGY TECH Scientist Revs Up Power of Microbial Fuel Cells in Unexpected Ways Energy concerns dominate EU-Latin American summit More Effective Catalyst Materials For Petrochemical Industry Rising Price Of Oil Highlights Affordable Energy Alternatives	CIVIL NUCLEAR Australia considers 'nuclear fuel leasing' Russian Nuke Fuel Maker To Apply For Public Funding On $400 Mln Project Russian, Iranian Officials Hold Talks On Bushehr Reactor Poland Interested In Baltic Nuclear Project
BLUE SKY In The Baltics Spring And Smoke Is In The Air UNH And NASA Unlock The Puzzle Of Global Air Quality Project Achieves Milestone In Analyzing Pollutants Dimming The Atmosphere The 'Oxygen Imperative'	WOOD PILE Global Pulp Mill Growth Threatens Forests, May Collapse Experts Sound Alarm Over State Of Czech Forests Diverse Tropical Forests Defy Metabolic Ecology Models Developing Nations May Save The Tropical Forest
FARM NEWS Who Really Buys Organic Alternatives To The Use Of Nitrate As A Fertiliser Researchers Trawl The Origins Of Sea Fishing In Northern Europe Greens Happy As EU Tightens GMO Testing	CAR TECH Prototype For Revolutionary One-Metre Wide Vehicle Is Developed Highly Realistic Driving Simulator Helps Develop Safer Cars Research On The Road To Intelligent Cars Volvo Promises Hybrid Truck Engines Within Three Years
AEROSPACE Face Of Outdoor Advertising Changes With New Airship Design NASA Denies Talks With Japan On Supersonic Jet Test Pilot Crossfield Killed In Private Plane Crash Aerospace Industry Slow To Embrace New MEMS Technologies	NUCLEAR SPACE Could NASA Get To Pluto Faster? Space Expert Says Yes - By Thinking Nuclear NASA plans to send new robot to Jupiter Los Alamos Hopes To Lead New Era Of Nuclear Space Tranportion With Jovian Mission Boeing Selects Leader for Nuclear Space Systems Program

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement