Desert plant physiology, fungal ecology, and climate response.

I am a fungal ecologist and desert plant physiologist studying how Sonoran Desert plants respond to heat, drought, microbial interactions, and a changing climate.

This site brings together field sites, project summaries, media, and ways to connect.

About

I study root fungal relationships, physiology, and the ecology of desert plants, with a focus on water relations, thermal stress, and long-term responses to a warming, drying climate. My work combines field measurements, laboratory methods, and quantitative analysis to understand how iconic Sonoran Desert species respond to environmental change.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, I divide my time among fieldwork, lab management, data analysis, and public outreach. This site is a living space for current projects, study locations, media, and opportunities for collaboration.

Field Sites

My research is grounded in field sites across the Sonoran Desert and adjacent drylands. This interactive map will highlight ongoing study locations, project links, and site photos.

Interactive field site map coming soon.

Featured Photos

A few moments from fieldwork, instrumentation, and study species across South Mountain and other Sonoran locations.

Data collection on a small saguaro at South Mountain
Data collection on a small plant included in the study.
Saguaro monitoring and GPS marking
Saguaro monitoring and high-accuracy GPS marking.
Field assistant Pepper at work
My field assistant Pepper hard at work.
Wendy Hodgson explaining a woodpecker boot to Pepper
Wendy Hodgson explaining how a woodpecker boot is formed to Pepper.
Young saguaro growing without a nurse plant
A very full young saguaro growing, unusually, without a nurse plant.
View full gallery

Media

A few recent features, interviews, and mentions related to my work in desert plant physiology and fungal ecology.

Contact

For questions about research, collaboration, data visualization, or outreach, you can reach me at:

Email: aschuessler@dbg.org

You can also connect with me on LinkedIn and other professional networks (linkedin.com/in/alexandra-schuessler).