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Biomes: Chaparral By: Jason Mollerup

Explore the physical characteristics, animals, plants, and environmental damage of the Chaparral biome. Learn about solutions to prevent wildfires and preserve this unique ecosystem.

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Biomes: Chaparral By: Jason Mollerup

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  1. Biomes: ChaparralBy: Jason Mollerup

  2. Physical Characteristics • Location • Mainly the Mediterranean region of Europe, the western part of the United States, and Australia. • It can be found in mainly the northern latitudes of the western side of continents. • Terrain • Has various landscapes such as: hills, mountain slopes, scrubland, and forests • Classified as desert or grassland.

  3. Chemical Characteristics • Fire has a major role • Certain seeds are inhibited form germination by chemicals given off from leaf litter which is only released after they have been burned. When fire burns these compounds from the soil, the seeds germinate at once. • Seeds that have been dormant for even 100 years can retain their germination adaptations to fire and may grow after a fire sweeps through.

  4. Climate

  5. Map

  6. Animals • Black-tailed Jackrabbit (actually a hare) • Jackrabbits live in the extreme environments of the desert and chaparral, where temperatures are hot during the day and cold atnight, and there isn’t a lot of rain. • They have huge ears that regulate their body heat (helps jackrabbit absorb heat or cool off). • Considered primary consumer, they eat tough grass, leaves, twigs, sagebrush and cacti. • Aardwolf (furry hyena that looks like a dog) • Means “earth wolf” in Afrikaans The aardwolf was named like that because they live in underground burrows. • Small and shy compared to hyenas (15-20 inches to the ground). • Inhabits the grassland of the chaparral. • Considered a secondary consumer. They eat the termites and grasshoppers of the chaparral. • Puma • Incredibly adaptable to nearly any environment. • Males can weigh up to 200 pounds • Considered a tertiary consumer, it eats, deer, skunk, Aardwolf and the Cactus Wren of the chaparral.

  7. Plants • Blue oak • Native to the state of California on the western coast of North America. • Grows in the valleys and lower slopes of the Coast Ranges. • Adapted to drought and dry climates as the can survive in temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. • Produces leaves and acorns. • Coyote Brush • Common in California’s chaparral • Found in canyons below 2500 feet • Coyote brush is dioecious which means that it produces male and female fowlers on different plants • Its roots spread out several yards which allows it to be great at catching rain • Olive Tree • Oldest known cultivated tree in history • Played a huge role in the civilizations of the Mediterranean countries • It is an evergreen tree with gray-green leaves and small white flowers • Can reach heights of 25-30 feet tall. • Survives in hot and dry climates

  8. Environmental damage • Wildfires are the main cause of damage. Earlier it was discussed that fire is key to plant growth, however when it is not natural it can be severe. Natural occurring wildfires range from 30-150 years, however humans cause wildfires in the chaparral nearly every year! Although certain species of plants depend on the fires, numerous fires cause for other species of plants and animals to become scarce.

  9. Solutions • Bulletins posted by Wildbird (a foundation composed of native plant activists) share information to those in San Diego regarding Brush management, Brush/Chaparral and Fire Resistant Plants. Bulletins like these help people become aware of the destruction of wild fires and give them tips on the prevention of them. • Planning commissions have been formed for the prevention of wildfires in San Diego since 2009. Topics discussed included expanding chaparral and educating those about Chaparral wildfires.

  10. Reference and Bibliography • M, L (2000 June, 3). Chaparral. retrieved 2011 November, 30, from Chaparral Web Site: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/chaparral.html • P, K & Fougere, J (2009 May, 19). Chaparral Group C. retrieved 2011 November, 30, from General Information Web Site: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=chaparral+food+web&view=detail&id=E9D5B86CADE1853DB72617F47A22FCCDC24EF5D7&first=0 • N, C (1995 Jan, 1). Monthly Averages for Chaparral, NM. retrieved 2011 November, 30, from Local Weather Alerts Web Site: http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USNM0361 • T, N (2005 May, 25). The Chaparral Biome. retrieved 2011 November, 30, from Home School Web Site: http://www.homeschoolonline.co.uk/biology/biomes/the-chaparral-biome.html • H, R (2009 May, 19). Fire And Nature. retrieved 2011 November, 30, from California chaparral Institute Web Site: http://www.californiachaparral.com/firenature.html

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