In a nutshell: Presenters discuss the reactions and resilience of two mesic and xeric species to climate variability in Saguaro National Park to consider what their adaptive patterns may look like under hotter and drier conditions in the near future.
Recorded on: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Description: At the upper elevations of Saguaro National Park, aspen and Chihuahua pine persist under starkly different ecological strategies—one moisture-dependent, the other adapted to fire and drought. This presentation draws on tree-ring data and climate-driven growth simulations to examine how these species have responded to past climate variability and what their trajectories may look like under hotter, drier conditions. The results reveal patterns of species-specific resilience and provide actionable insight for climate-adaptive management in this iconic desert sky island.
Presenters: Gabrielle Ayres, Erin Todd, and Peter Fulé with Northern Arizona University School of Forestry, Alicia Azpeleta Tarancón – Mediterranean Ecogeomorphological and Hydrological Connectivity Research Team with University of the Balearic Islands, and Will Flatley – Department of Geography with the University of Central Arkansas.
Additional resources:
- 2024 Publication: Response of aspen to a warming climate along a latitudinal gradient in the Rocky Mountains, USA
- StoryMap on Fire and climate effects on aspen and Chihuahua pines
This webinar is co-hosted by the Arizona Wildfire Initiative.
Register for all our webinars and get the zoom link delivered automatically to your inbox each month! You can also unsubscribe at this link. REGISTER FOR ALL WEBINARS HERE.
