Nopal cardón
Mission pricklypear
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All living things take a place inside a food web. Take a look at how mine works:
Primary producer: Mission prickly-pear (ME!)
Primary consumers (Herbivores): Tortoises, jackrabbits and dessert woodrats
Secondary consumers (Carnivores): Coyotes, roadrunners, lynx
Tertiary consumer (Top predators): Golden eagle, mountain lion
Listen to this podcast to learn more about me!
"I am proudly Mexican! One of the biggest pricklypears and my bittersweet tunas are used to make traditional candy:
"I am proudly Mexican! One of the biggest pricklypears and my bittersweet tunas are used to make traditional candy:
Melcocha and queso de tuna."
Melcocha and queso de tuna."
Energy
Photosynthesis is a very important part of my life!
It is the process in which plants take energy from sunlight and convert it into sugars and oxygen so that humans and animals can breathe!
All plants have special parts called chloroplasts inside their cells. This acts like a solar panel so sunlight can get absorbed. At the same time, plants suck up water from the soil using their roots and absorb carbon dioxide gas from the air through tiny pores.
Inside the chloroplasts, the sunlight that was absorbed splits the water into oxygen and hydrogen molecules. Since we do not need the oxygen, we release it into the air as a waste! (Which is lucky for you because you need oxygen to breathe!) The hydrogen combines with the carbon dioxide to create glucose, which is like a snack to us.
My home:
I normally live in tropical and temperate regions, in North and South America, specifically on the Galapagos Island and Mexico. Normally, rain waters me once a month, which is more than enough for me! I am very ecological. The type of soil I need drains water quickly. I prefer to live in low-altitude environments because I get dizzy in high places, but I can adapt.
You might know some of my neighbors: iguanas, tortoises, sea lions, Galapagos penguins, finches, hammerhead sharks, cacti, daisies, palo santo, mangroves, saltbush, and lantana. (iNaturalsita)
My roles in the ecosystem:
I am located all over Mexico's territory and I serve as a source of food and water for many animals. As a producer, my role is to photosynthesize to convert sunlight into energy. My fruits (tuna) and pads serve as important sources for many animals so that they can get food and water that is stored in my tissues. My flowers produce nectar, that attracts pollinators. My branches provide shelter for many animals. They can use it to hide from weather conditions and other predators.
My classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Cactaceae
Genus: Barbary fig
Species: Streptacantha
Save me before it is too late!
Every year, I am more at risk of disappearing forever. My species is endangered because our habitats are destroyed, and different species invade our areas, damaging our habitats. You humans have certain activities that affect my habitat conditions. Your activities promote climate change and this is very damaging for me.
What can you do to save me?
Support habitat conservation: Organizations and initiatives that work to save different habitats. Donate and support different organizations.
Reduce the impact of human activity: Reduce activities that minimize habitat destruction; responsible farming, urban planting, and sustainable vehicle use
Invasive species control: Manage basic species that threaten native ecosystems by participating in local efforts.
My ecological importance:
With pollinators, my biggest companions are hummingbirds, birds, and moths
My tunas are specifically eaten by raccoons, coyotes, and cacomixtles, which are all mammals that benefit from me!
The economic value of prickly pears like me is that we are a vital source of food and drinks that are derived from juice fruits stems and flowers.
My Tunas can be eaten raw or used to make jam and jellies.
My petals can be eaten raw or cooked.
You are lucky to have me in your green roof! I am one of the three plants that are endangered here. I am very unique.
My adaptations:
I have special characteristics that help e survive in my environment. My roots help me capture rainfall from the soil easily.The excess of water is stored inside my pads and is kept there for me to drink as needed. Plants like me are also very tolerant to extreme cold weathers. (National Park Services)
My adaptation are useful because I have good chances at surviving inside my environment. The water I store in my pads keeps me hydrated and stores water efficietly for me. My tolerance to extreme weather is useful because I live in areas with constant weather changes.
I have a close relative that shares the same structure as me!
The Beavertail cactus are my close relative but have the diference of flower color, shape and pad size. But still! they have the same homologous structure with their pads, spine and flowers.
Lastly, I'll share with you a bit of my family history.
Mission prickly pears originally come from the larger family of Cactaceae. Our family is estimated to be 30 to 40 million years ago, and it was originated in South America. Our diversification happened during climatic changes, including the uplift of the Andes Mountains. This led to the development of more species of cacti that later evolved into pricklypears like me.
MLA citations:
“Mission Prickly-Pear (Plants of Baja) · INaturalist.” INaturalist, 2015, www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/351420. Accessed 21 May 2024.
“Great Plains Prickly Pear.” Usda.gov, 2024, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/opuntia_polyacantha.shtml#:~:text=The%20economic%20value%20of%20Great,fruits%2C%20stems%2C%20and%20flowers. Accessed 21 May 2024.
Lucía Andreu-Coll, et al. “Economic Estimation of Cactus Pear Production and Its Feasibility in Spain.” Trends in Food Science & Technology, vol. 103, 1 Sept. 2020, pp. 379–385, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224420305343, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2020.07.003. Accessed 21 May 2024.
“Factsheet - Opuntia Ficus-Indica (Sweet Prickly Pear).” Lucidcentral.org, 2024, keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/weeds/key/weeds/Media/Html/Opuntia_ficus-indica_(Sweet_Prickly_Pear).htm. Accessed 29 May 2024.
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