The Sonoran Desert has one of the most diverse native plant and animal species of any desert in the world.  Phoenix is a rapidly expanding urban area located within the Sonoran Desert.  People have had a large impact on the desert ecosystem and the desert ecosystem has had an impact on how the city has developed. 

How has your neighborhood changed over the past 50 years? Do you know its history?  Some neighborhoods used to be farmland and others used to be desert.  Some neighborhoods were built for people who prefer to live at the edge of the city near the natural desert, while others were built for people who prefer to live closer to malls and downtowns.

How does the creation of new neighborhoods impact the desert?   How does the creation of new neighborhoods affect older neighborhoods? Are people thinking about using land differently than in the past?  CAP LTER scientists are studying these questions. They are collecting and analyzing data about how the Phoenix area and its neighborhoods have changed and are currently changing.

Check out the some of these changes by trying the Ecology Explorers Land Use Change activities.