03/29/2013

The Secret Life of the Sonoran Desert

30:36 minutes

The Sonoran Desert, which spans some 100,000 square miles in southwestern North America, is one of the most diverse desert ecosystems in the world. Host Ira Flatow and guests discuss some lesser-known desert creatures, and explore the secret life of that American Southwest icon, the saguaro cactus.

Segment Guests

Kevin Hultine

Kevin Hultine is a plant physiologist at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jon Davis

Jon Davis is an environmental physiologist and course manager for biology at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ferran Garcia-Pichel

Ferran Garcia-Pichel is a microbiologist, dean of natural sciences at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and professor at the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Meet the Producer

About Annette Heist

Annette Heist is a former senior producer for Science Friday.

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