Anangu, the traditional owners of Uluru, joined forces with plant scientists to study a mass dieback event in Australia's desert. Together they identified the physiological traits that allowed some plant species to survive, pointing to clear strategies for keeping desert life going under extreme weather.
Desert plants face longer droughts and harsher heat as extreme weather increases. Knowing which traits helped certain species survive dieback gives conservationists a practical guide for protecting keystone species — ones that matter both to the desert food web and to Anangu culture at Uluru.
✦ Survival leaves clues, and local knowledge helps scientists read them.