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Saguaro and Buffelgrass Interaction: A Spatial Analysis

Explore the relationship between Saguaros and Buffelgrass in Saguaro National Park, Tucson. Learn about their characteristics, threats, and the challenges in mapping their interaction.

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Saguaro and Buffelgrass Interaction: A Spatial Analysis

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  1. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Spatial Analysis of the Interaction Between Saguaros and Buffelgrass Becky MacEwenSaguaro National Park NPS RIM GIS Specialist Tucson, AZApril2010

  2. Saguaro National Park • Where is it? • Why was it created? • TUCSON

  3. The Good • What is the scientific name for Saguaro? Carnegieagigantea • Found only in Sonoran Desert • Limited by temperature and elevation • Long-lived and slow-growing • Saguaro

  4. 1-1.5” in first 8-10 years • arms in 50-100 years • If at all, up to 50 • flowers around 55 years • 8 feet tall • 150-175 average life span • maybe 200+ years • 50 feet (12 meters) • Up to 24 meters • Mature weigh 6+ tons

  5. What are it’s major threats? • Disease • Climate • Urbanization • Exotic plants

  6. The Bad • What is the scientific name for Buffelgrass? Pennisetumciliare • Non-native originally from Africa • Limited by temperature and elevation • New frost-tolerant variant • Short-livedand fast-growing

  7. Rate of spread • Doubling in 10 years

  8. Grows well on steep slopes, even south-facing Photos: USGS Desert Lab

  9. 2000ac mapped and/or treated

  10. The Ugly

  11. East Valley Tribune Photo

  12. Saguaro Census • 64 Saguaro Plots • 11 were mapped in 1975 • Some have been monitored since 1941

  13. Historic Saguaro Plots

  14. TMD Plots

  15. 1975 2001 2009

  16. RMD Plots

  17. Buffelgrass mapped on 41C

  18. 1936

  19. 1974

  20. 2007

  21. Challenges • Not finding buffelgrass on mapped plots • Historic air photos not good enough resolution to show buffelgrass or saguaros • How do I show the spatial interaction?

  22. ANY QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?

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