Eureka: “With almost a third of cacti species threatened with extinction, a new open access database of cactus ecology and evolution could help scientists and conservationists save species from the brink. Researchers from the Universities of Bath and Reading have launched CactEcoDB, the most comprehensive database ever created for the cactus family, offering an unprecedented window into the evolution, ecology and conservation needs of one of the world’s most distinctive and endangered groups of plants. Cactaceae – the family that includes everything from tiny globular cacti to towering desert giants – comprises around 1,850 species found across the Americas. Cacti are famous for their extreme adaptations to water scarcity and harsh environments, but they are also under severe threat: 31% of species are currently at risk of extinction, with habitat loss, climate change and illegal trade putting many more in danger. To help scientists better understand and protect these unique plants, the team behind CactEcoDB assembled an open access dataset drawing on hundreds of data sources collected over seven years and covering more than 1,000 cactus species.”