Few things are more iconic to the California desert than the Joshua tree. Unfortunately, these “spiky, Seussian succulents” are already under threat because of the worsening effects of climate change, reports Times environment reporter Alex Wigglesworth. A study found that, because of big swings in precipitation and warmer winters, Joshua trees are flowering more often. That’s great for our Instagram pages, but bad for the species. It could mean that seedlings, which need more water to thrive, aren’t surviving as frequently as prior years. The study’s author, Jeremy Yoder, associate professor of biology at Cal State Northridge, puts a fine point on why we must save these gorgeous succulents: “If we protect Joshua trees, we’re probably protecting this whole category of things that live in the desert.”
Los Angeles Times