Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei (Bakersfield Cactus)
Credit: Peri Lee
about the species
Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei is a state- and federally listed endangered species and California endemic, narrowly restricted to the area in and around Bakersfield, entirely within in Kern County. Despite its highly restricted range, it occurs at the convergence of five of the USDA Ecoregions: Great Valley, Mojave Desert, Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada Foothills and Southern California Mountains and Valleys.
why species was selected
Because it is critically endangered, and its habitat highly fragmented, Opuntia basilaris var. treleasei has already been the subject of three separate restoration planting efforts. Understanding the variation across the wild populations will help inform ongoing management by governments and non-profits. Furthermore, a reference genome will greatly enhance ongoing research to document fine-scale variation within and among populations.
