Climate change is coming for the cactus. Yes, the cactus.

A new study finds that worsening droughts, alongside rising temperatures, could sharply reduce suitable habitat for most cactus species by 2100. The findings challenge the idea that cacti can withstand almost any conditions, and suggest climate change may put desert ecosystems and the wildlife they support at greater risk.

Researchers modelled climate impacts on nearly 1,000 species and used 650,000 iNaturalist observations to help assess where cacti occur. More than a quarter of the species could lose at least 80 per cent of their habitat by 2100; drought may also hinder growth or flowering, as seen in saguaro cacti during prolonged dry spells.