Cacti Evolve Faster Than Previously Thought 0 11

Researchers from the University of Reading, led by Jamie Thompson, analyzed data on the length of inflorescences from over 750 species of cacti — ranging from 2 to 37 cm. Contrary to the classical Darwinian idea that a close relationship with pollinators leads to speciation, flower size does not explain the rates of new species emergence. The key factor turned out to be evolutionary plasticity: species whose flowers change shape more rapidly are significantly more likely to split into new ones.

The cactus family comprises approximately 1,850 species. It has spread across continents over the last 20–35 million years. Nearly a third of these plants are currently at risk of extinction.

The authors emphasize that for conservation efforts, it is important to consider not only the current status of species but also their evolutionary dynamics: species with a high rate of change can be both more adaptive and more vulnerable in the face of rapid climate shifts.

The study relies on a newly established database, CactEcoDB, developed over seven years. It changes the perception of deserts as unchanging landscapes: in reality, they are arenas of active evolutionary processes, where flower shape changes faster than one might expect.