what is the importance of cactuses in our environment?

Answer 1

Cacti have evolved into what we know them as today from living in arid conditions.
Some cacti do still have leaves, these would be classified as more primitive on the evolution chain.
Their importance could be looked at in several ways, they can live where other vegetation cannot and they do provide food for many desert inhabitants. Not in the sense that the cacti are consumed, but their flowers, fruit and seed pods are eaten by a wide variety of fauna.
The vegetarian animals that survive on such cacti in turn provide food for the many carnivores that live in the desert, coyotes, jaguars, rattlesnakes etc, all depend on the animals that live off of cacti.

Answer 2

They should be illegal the are a liability in scottsdale arizona every grows them on the side walk. Vegetation not much some times there is a good cactus plum or pear. But they cactus where put there to kill any thing hoping to make it across the desert the plant will always out wit a victim to stickem and this the needles well impale him and suck the fluids out of the victim in the heat.

Answer 3

The same as anything in any environment. All things have their place. Cactus provide shelter to desert animals and food from their annual fruit.

Answer 4

Cows and certain animals eat them
bees like the flowers
they can provide humis to the soil

Answer 5

in desert areas , they hold the soil & food to some animals.....they r also used as medicine