Abstract
SUMMARY (1) The distribution of species of cacti along gradients of aspect and angle of slope is described and compared for a species-rich community in the Sonoran Desert and for a species-poor community in the Mohave Desert. (2) No differences were found between the two sites in the ecological ranges of cactus species along these gradients. (3) In the Sonoran Desert there were larger overlaps in the distribution of species along the aspect-gradient than in the Mohave Desert; however, no differences in overlap were found between the two areas along the gradient of angle of slope. (4) More species of cacti are packed into the Sonoran Desert study area, either by utilizing portions of the environmental gradients unavailable in the Mohave Desert, or by addition of species with different growth-form and maximum size. (5) The cylindropuntias (the group with the largest number of species in the two areas) illustrate the latter effect.
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