Preferred Habitat- Most cacti live in habitats subject to at least some drought. Many live in extremely dry environments. Cacti show many adaptations to conserve water. Most species of cacti have lost true leaves, retaining only spines, which are highly modified leaves. As well as defending against animals, spines help prevent water loss by reducing air flow close to the cactus and providing some shade. Cactus spines are produced from specialized structures called areoles, a kind of micro sized branch. Areoles are an identifying feature of cacti, areoles give rise to flowers, which helps the cactus stand straight.
Abiotic Factors- Cacti are influenced by soil nutrient content, soil porosity, rainfall, pH and other factors. Due to the relatively high content of woody tissue in their stems, most cacti are quite resistant to forces of gravity and wind. Certain cacti become drier/harder as they age and can grow as tall as 18 meters. Biotic Factors- Plants in the desert are essential to the animals that live there because of the water they can get from them. Animals that get water from cacti include jackrabbits, mule, deer, pronghorn antelope, javelina, kit fox, coati, different types of birds, and insects.