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The needles provide protection from animals that feed on cacti. They also provide shade in some species with dense coverings of spines. The needles were originally leaves that evolved over years to needles. Leaves lose much more water to the atmosphere that the spines do.
Cactus spines also act as condensation collectors, especially in arid regions with daily fogs like the coastal strip of the Atacama Desert in South America. In addition to watering the cactus, the water dripping off the spines is an important source of moisture for local wildlife.
Some cactus spines even provide a means of propagation by clinging to passersby and causing a segment of the cactus stem to detach from the parent plant, which it does quite easily, and travel with the host animal to wherever the animal dislodges it and the stem can now grow again in a new spot.Easy to answer. Some animals want the water from the cactus, but they can't because of the needles
What else can I help you with?
What biome does a cactus live in?
A cactus typically lives in desert biomes, where they are adapted to survive in arid conditions with low rainfall and high temperatures.
Why the leaves of cacti are reduced to needle and spines?
The leaves of cacti are reduced to needles and spines primarily to minimize water loss in their arid environments. This adaptation reduces the surface area exposed to the sun and decreases transpiration, helping the plant conserve moisture. Additionally, the spines can provide some protection from herbivores and help to create shade, further supporting the cactus's survival in harsh conditions. Overall, these modifications are crucial for their adaptation to desert habitats.
What is the thorns on the cactus for?
The cactus is one of the few plants found in the desert, and in order to survive it needs a massive amount of water. Since it does not rain all year round in a desert, cacti store water when it does rain. So the needles on the cactus protect their water-rich flesh from other things in the desert.
What plant lives in the hottest conditions?
One of the most heat-tolerant plants is the desert plant known as the Saguaro cactus. It thrives in hot, arid conditions and can withstand extreme temperatures in the desert.
How do needles and thorns help a cactus to survive in the desert?
its because the needles are actually leaves. they are small because if they were bigger, then they would waste water. also, the "leaves" have small waxy cuticles(i think that's how to spell them) that trap water and store it in the cacti's trunk.
What plant has an adaptation to the desert?
cactus
What are the native plants and their adaptation to live in the desert?
cactus and dates were the native plants of deserts
What is a cactus adaptation in the desert?
Most cacti are able to store water in their stems for periods of drought.
What is the adaptation for the ironwood?
sagebrush,cactus,ocotillo,brittle bush,mojave aster,and desert ironwoodPut
What biome does a cactus live in?
A cactus typically lives in desert biomes, where they are adapted to survive in arid conditions with low rainfall and high temperatures.
Why are the cactus leaves in such way?
Because they are in the desert where the effect of the sun is overkilling,hence they have evolved this form for their survival(adaptation)
Why the leaves of cacti are reduced to needle and spines?
The leaves of cacti are reduced to needles and spines primarily to minimize water loss in their arid environments. This adaptation reduces the surface area exposed to the sun and decreases transpiration, helping the plant conserve moisture. Additionally, the spines can provide some protection from herbivores and help to create shade, further supporting the cactus's survival in harsh conditions. Overall, these modifications are crucial for their adaptation to desert habitats.
Why does a cactus grow in deserts?
The cactus has a number of structural adaptations that allow it to live in the harsh conditions of the desert. Many other plants lack these adaptations and cannot survive in a desert.
What are the special features of desert animals?
Adaptation to their changing environmental conditions.
Is cactus leafy plant?
yes, it is, the leaf of a cacti plant is modified into spines in order to reduce transpiration. This is a method of desert adaptation.
What are the types of organisms that live in the desert?
There are cacti, camels, roadrunners, meerkats, a few spiders, the Texas Horned Lizard, ostriches, caracals and the Sonoran Desert Toad as a few organisms that live there. All of them have some kind of adaptation that allows them to survive in the arid and often sweltering climate.
Where is Cactus?
a cactus lives in a desert
