As the light brightens the deck every morning, I wake to see the Cotton Tails playing in their usual spots. Their lively antics soon attract a mix of squirrels, pigeons, doves, a passing roadrunner, and quail. I provide birdseed and rabbit food daily, finding great joy in watching them. However, I wonder whether this practice is genuinely beneficial. I am pondering the natural balance of this environment and whether my actions align with it.
When I asked Dr. Cameron Barrows to talk to me about the Desert’s plants, animals, and ecology, he was eager to discuss a subject he loves. Despite common misconceptions about deserts being barren, Dr. Barrows told me this couldn’t be further from the truth. Thirty-four million years ago, the Northern Continent was covered in ice from Canada to the northern United States, pushing all the plants and animals further south. They found refuge in the deserts and have adapted to variable weather conditions from year to year.
Dr. Barrows emphasizes diversity:” We have more species of reptiles in our Desert than anywhere else in North America. We have more species of bees than anywhere else in North America. And I think that’s pretty exceptional. And we are responsible for ensuring those species don’t go extinct.”
The Joshua Tree National Park listed a comprehensive list of species identified in the Morongo Basin. It included the Coyote, Big Horn Sheep, Black Tailed Jack Rabbits, mule deer, mountain lions, bobcats, and cotton tails. There are 16 species of bats and rodents, including mice, squirrels, and rats. Joshua Tree National Park hosts 46 different species of reptiles, including lizards, snakes, and the desert tortoise. There are over 200 species of birds. And numerous species of insects and arachnids. The Big Morongo Preserve hosts several species of reptiles and amphibians, including rosy boas, red diamond rattlesnakes, and the California king snakes.
Also seen here are Great Basin whiptail lizards, Western side-blotched lizards, Desert Iguana, Desert spiny lizards, Western red-tailed skinks, and Baja California treefrogs.
“Plants and their pollinators have had to adapt to changing weather conditions,” said Dr. Barrows. “When we see certain wildflowers, many bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are associated with those plants. And then in a different year, when different plants are out because the rain patterns are different, there’s a different set of pollinators.”
Dr. Barrows said, “One of my colleagues at the University of California studies the organisms that live underground, primarily fungi and bacteria. He would say that if you add up all species richness above the ground, the below ground exceeds that by an order of magnitude.”
“Fungi and bacteria are critical because they interact with the roots of the plants that we see above the ground, like creosote bushes, Joshua trees, Mesquite, Ironwood, and palo verde. The roots of these plants interact with the organisms underground by exchanging nutrients and gasses. Because of their deep roots, these plants sequester carbon from the air and distribute it in the ground. Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, and much of this carbon dioxide is stored in roots. Plants and the soil then release carbon dioxide when they decay.”
Desert plants like creosote bushes and Joshua trees provide shelter, food, and protection for various wildlife, including birds, insects, and mammals. Over time, these plants have adapted to survive in harsh desert conditions, making them uniquely suited to their environment.
Disturbing or removing desert plants, such as through scraping or development, can significantly impact the ecosystem. This disruption can reduce habitat availability for wildlife, alter the soil composition and hydrology, and, in some cases, contribute to desertification. Conservation efforts often focus on preserving these plant species to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem health in desert regions.
Dr. Barrows emphasizes the animals’ dependency on plants. “Many birds and some reptiles depend on the iconic Joshua Tree for structure. The Desert is full of red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, various flycatchers, and cactus wrens, and all those species are out there because they’re nesting in Joshua trees.”
Learning about your environment is essential to protecting it. Volunteering as a Citizen Scientist is one way to learn more about this incredible environment. Citizen Scientists observe and chart the locations of unusual birds or plants, working closely with scientists or park rangers.
Citizen science, community science, crowd science, crowd-sourced science, civic science, participatory monitoring, or volunteer monitoring is research conducted with participation from the general public or amateur/nonprofessional researchers. If you have time to observe nature and document your observations, this is a great way to learn while providing valuable resources to the science community.
If you are interested in learning more, here are some organizations to contact:
Friends of Joshua Tree is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historical tradition of climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. www.friendsofjosh.org
The Mojave Desert Land Trust protects the Mojave and Colorado Desert ecosystems and their natural, cultural, and scenic resource values. It also advocates for night skies, clean air and water, broad views and vistas, and abundant native plants and animals. www.mdlt.org
Joshua Tree Residential Education Experience engages and educates young people in Joshua Tree National Park, inspiring them to live healthy lives, become socially involved, and take action to sustain a healthy planet. www.JTreeOutdoorEd.org
Desert Institute is the educational branch of the Joshua Tree National Park Association. It offers field classes, recreational adventures, and social events across various disciplines and formats.
The Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. https://www.bigmorongo.org/
Learning about this environment is essential. The more I know, the more I rethink how I navigate my life in the Desert.
