Chaparral – A Minor BiomeChaparral – A Minor Biome

Sample Project

ChaparralChaparral Major Climate

Hot, dry summers (40ºC) and Cool (10 ºC), moist winters 38-102 cm precipitation/year (mostly winter rain)2 main seasons

ChaparralChaparral

GeographySouthwestern US, Coastal Chile, Mediterranean Coast, Southern and Western Coastal Australia, and Southwestern South AfricaIt is found in US (California)Coastal

ChaparralChaparral

ProducersScrub OakChaparral PeaDeerweedYucca

Chaparral - ProducersChaparral - Producers Scrub Oak

1-2 meters tall Found in Chaparral and other locationsAcorns can be irritating to skin

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query

Chaparral– ProducersChaparral– Producers Chaparral Pea

Low Dense ThicketsFound on hills, slopes and in recently burned areasOne of few nitrogen-fixing plants in Chaparral

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query

Chaparral - ProducersChaparral - Producers Deerweed

1 meter mound shape Commonly found in many areas of western North America including ChaparralAttracts Butterflies

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query

Chaparral - ProducersChaparral - Producers Yucca

Flower can reach 3 meters tall Found in Southwestern US and Baja California, MexicoRoots can be pounded into a paste and used as shampoo

http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query

ChaparralChaparral

ConsumersBlacktail Deer (herbivore)Mouse (herbivore)Kit Fox (omnivore)Puma (carnivore)

Chaparral - ConsumersChaparral - Consumers Blacktail Deer (herbivore)

40-90kg (smallest of US deer species)Populations are stable Mating between Whitetail and Blacktail Deer resulted in the Mule Deer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_Deer

Chaparral - ConsumersChaparral - Consumers Cactus Mouse

(herbivore)16-22cm from nose to tailFound in many desert areas as well as ChaparralEats fruits and flowers of plants

http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=MA0179

Chaparral - ConsumersChaparral - Consumers Kit Fox (omnivore)

About the size of a housecatNot threatened

Nocturnal Animal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Fox

Chaparral - ConsumersChaparral - Consumers Spotted Skunk

(carnivore)35-55cm (smaller than the striped skunk)No Concern – abundant populationSpray to avoid predation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Spotted_Skunk

ChaparralChaparral

DecomposersActinomycetesMillipede

Chaparral - DecomposersChaparral - Decomposers Actinomycetes

MicroscopicFound in most soilsFungi-like bacteria that form filaments in the soil

http://www.the-compost-gardener.com/actinomycetes.html

Chaparral - DecomposersChaparral - Decomposers Millipede

10-13cm long Found everywhere but the polar regionsExudes foul tasting chemicals to avoid predation

http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_centipede.php

Chaparral– Food Chain/WebChaparral– Food Chain/Web

ChaparralChaparral Specific Example

Corsica (an island in the Mediterranean Sea)Ecosystem is healthy, island has many protected areasOften found in disturbed areas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maquis_shrubland

ChaparralChaparral Specific Example

Western Cape of South AfricaThreatened by the influx of invasive speciesFire is an important part in the reproduction of many plants in this location

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fynbos

ChaparralChaparral Reasons to Visit

Fire FightingHerb GatheringRare Biome

http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/medit/medit.html