KEYSTONE+ PROJECT - Saguaro

The saguaro cactus directly supports more than 100 animal species, The nectar and pollen of the flowers, and later the red fruits, provide food and water to insects, birds, and mammals. Birds carve out holes for shelter, and the tall mature saguaros are perches for nesting and surveillance. The average lifespan of a saguaro cactus is 175 to 200 years. The fallen, decaying skeleton provides nutrients and ground level habitats for still more desert organisms.