Hot to Hotter, Dry to Drier Climate Change and Importance of Adaptation for Populations of the Sonoran Desert's Ecosystems

The Sonoran Desert extends from the southwest of the United States into the northwest of Mexico, covering 120,000 square miles of Arizona, California, and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California.[15] It includes the large US cities of Palm Springs, Phoenix, and Tucson, which are known to attract tourists from colder regions during their mild winters.

This arid region is the hottest of North America, although it can reach below freezing conditions during nights of the winter. Though relatively dry, the Sonoran Desert has a bimodal rainfall pattern that allows for its high biological diversity.[15]

As climate changes globally, the Sonoran Desert has and will continue to experience its own local changes. Multiple abiotic factors will cause changes to the desert's ecosystems, as different organisms each react and respond differently. A large determinant of species' survival is their ability to adapt or acclimate to these changes, and to do so in ways that most optimize their ecological fitness. These variations may produce asynchronies between interacting species, which may further exacerbate or counteract other stressors.

It is important to recognize changes that have already affected Sonoran ecosystems and their populations since climate will continue to change with increasing rate, creating both a warmer and drier climate in the southwest.[18,9] Throughout this site, we will consider tolerance mechanisms of Sonoran desert species that will largely determine their ability to adapt to and persist in the face of this climate change.

Outline of Website Contents

The following topics are discussed throughout this blog. Please click on the page tabs on the left for more information on each:

1. Overview of the Sonoran Desert
1. Where?
2. What?
3. Climate Change in the Sonoran Desert

2. Climate Change Impacts on the Sonoran Desert
1. Abiotic Stresses Affecting Sonoran Ecosystems
2. Impacts on Sonoran Ecosystems

3. Importance of Tolerance Mechanisms
1. What is Tolerance?
2. What is a Tolerance Mechanism?
3. Key Tolerance Mechanisms in the Sonoran Desert
1. Physiological Mechanisms
1. Adaptation
2. Acclimation (phenotypic plasticity)
2. Avoidance Mechanisms
1. Behavioral Plasticity
4. Importance of Tolerance
1. Tolerance of Increased Drought and Variation in Water Availability
2. Tolerance of Warmer Temperatures Throughout the Year

4. Specific Examples of How Sonoran Species Use Tolerance Mechanisms
5. Terminology: definitions of terms used throughout the site
6. Resources: links to sites to learn more about climate change in the Sonoran Desert
7. Source Citations: bibliography of sources used in creating this website