Ten years (2006-2016) of annual growth rates for 13 of saguaro populations in the Sonoran Desert

Premise of the study: The saguaro cactus is an iconic species of the Sonoran Desert. Its individual growth rates have been investigated for over one hundred years. Its growth dynamics have been studied using phenomenological models intended to estimate growth, but not to understand the underlying biological processes. Most studies have suggested summer rainfall as the sole factor determining saguaro growth overlooking the influence of other factors related to the process of growth.