Works Cited

Works Cited

"American Indian Solutions to Environmental Challenges." Campo Kumeyaay Nation. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.nmai.si.edu/environment/kumeyaay/Homeland.aspx>. 

"Blue-oak-pine-rg." Blue-oak-pine-rg. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.davehil.net/scenics/blue-oak-pine-rg.html>. 

"Cactus Wren - Campylorhynchus Brunneicapillus." Cactus Wren - Campylorhynchus Brunneicapillus. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/cactus_wren.htm>. 

"CALIFORNIA CHAPARRAL INSTITUTE." Rocks in the Chaparral. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2014. <http://www.californiachaparral.com/chaparralfacts/dchaparralgeology.html>. 

"Chaparral Biome." Animal Facts and Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014. <http://bioexpedition.com/chaparral-biome/>. 

"Chaparral Biome." Chaparral Biome. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/chaparral.htm>. 

"Chaparral Biome Facts." Chaparral Biome Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. <http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/chaparral_biome_facts/169/>. 

"Chaparral (Mediterranean) Biome." Chaparral (Mediterranean) Biome. N.p., 2003. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. <http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/chaparral.html>. 

"Climograph for Marine Biome." Ylancon. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014. <http://ylancon.wallinside.com/>. 

"Coyote at Animal Corner." Coyote at Animal Corner. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2014. <http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/wildlife/coyote.html>. 

"Cépage Et Cuisine: June 2013." Cépage Et Cuisine: June 2013. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://cepageetcuisine.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html>. 

"Hard or True Chaparral." Hard or True Chaparral. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2014. <http://www.biosbcc.net/b100plant/htm/hard.htm>. 

"San Diego Ring-necked Snake - Diadophis Punctatus Similis." San Diego Ring-necked Snake. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2014. <http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/d.p.similis.html>. 

Zalom, F. G., R. A. Van Steenwky, H. J. Burrack, and M. W. Johnson. "How to Manage Pests." Olive Fruit Fly Management Guidelines--UC IPM. University of California Statewide IPM Program, 2014. Web. 15 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74112.html>.

How can we help?

        Today the Chaparral is threatened with 2 major issues: man made fires and pollution.

The sollution to the first issue is simple. Though the area is dry, man made fires are easily prevented. Don't leave campfires or grills unattended and don't be careless with a flame. Man made fires are devastating to wildlife trying to grow and who are not expecting fire. This can also be devastating to humans. As mentioned before, the Chaparral is a popular place to live, but many homes must be evacuated frequently because of humans carelessness. 

      As for pollution, there is no simple fix. Specifically areas in California, populations are growing at such a rate where it is difficult to control air pollution. There are things that individuals can do such as, car pooling, driving energy efficient cars, and using solar power (since the Chaparral is a prime place to take advantage of the sun). When building houses in the Chaparral, you should be mindful of the materials you are using and how their waste can impact the beauty around you. Light pollution is an issue because so many of the Chaparral's animals are nocturnal. Being mindful of this and not leaving lights on all night can prevent animals from getting hurt and not damaging your property. 

This biome is home to many species and things peoples livelihood depends on, such as Olive Trees and endangered species like the coyote. The beauty of this biome must be saved and everyone can help by making simple changes in their day to day lives. 

Environmental Issues in the Chaparral

All around the Earth, Chaparral biomes are being destroyed from pollution and human activity. Though it is hot, the Chaparral is a popular location for homes, because of the unique landscape and stunning view. When land is cleared for construction, the plants and animals that call the area home are destroyed.

When suburbs build up around the Chaparral, it contributes to the air pollution surrounding that region. This is especially a problem for California, home to areas such as San Diego that are extremely over populated and are polluting the air too quickly. Car emissions, light pollution, and waste contribute to the degrading of the Chaparral.

Fires are apart of the Chaparral's natural way of keeping the environment under control. However because of the dryness of the region and human's carelessness, there are many man made fires every year. Some fire can help the Chaparral, but man made fires disrupt plant growth. As more and more people move into the Chaparral, the higher the chance of fires.

Where and what is the Chaparral?

Among the world's most beautiful and diverse biomes is the Chaparral. The Chaparral landscape can vary between ridged mountains, flat plains and rolling hills. Chaparral areas are sometimes confused with other biomes because of how diverse the species within them are. The vegetation can vary from shrubs, forests and grasslands. Which species live in an area is largely contributed to fire history, topography and soil type. 

                             
                             Location

The Chaparral biome is found in North America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Australia. It is formed when cool ocean water meets a warm landmass. As shown on the map above, the Chaparral is found 30 degrees North of the Tropic of Cancer and 30 degrees South of the Tropic of Capricorn.

                                                          Chaparral Climatograph

The average temperatures range from 30F in the winter and 100F in the summer. Summers are classified as being extremely hot and dry whereas the winters are mild and moist. The Chaparral only receives around 10-17 inches of rain per year and most of that precipitation happens during the winter months. 

                 Chaparral Net Primary Productivity 

Net Primary Productivity is the total gain in energy per unit area per unit time by green plants after water matter has been lost through respiration. Productivity differs between biomes because biomes have different precipitation levels and varying levels of light for photosynthesis. 
The Chaparral is 30 degrees North of the Tropic of Cancer and 30 degrees South of the Tropic of Caperiorn, so there are adequate amounts of sunlight year around. However, there is little rain fall in the Chaparral and often times there are droughts, making photosynthesis levels lower. Compared to other biomes, the Chaparral has one of the lowest Net Primary Productivities, besides the desert. Though many of the plants and animals have adapted to the hot dry climate, lack of water causes lack of photosynthesis. 

How do plants and animals survive in the hot, dry climate?

Even though the average temperature of the Chaparral during summer months is 100F, the plants and animals within this biome have adapted to the hot, dry conditions. Most of the Chaparral's plants can be described by the Greek word sclerophyll meaning "hard leaved". Plants have small, hard, waxy leaves that retain moisture well or have long needles that absorb moisture from the air. Both of which help plants in times of drought. Because of the intense heat during the day, most animals are nocturnal and active only at night. Natural fires are also important to this biomes health. Some plants such as the wildflower, whispering bells and ceanothus require fire for their seeds to re-germinate.
The following are species that have adapted to the Chaparral conditions...

 

COYOTE

Coyotes are one of the larger animals in the Chaparral. Though they can see in the light, coyotes are primarily nocturnal animals. Coyotes have adapted to be nocturnal because most of their prey only come out at night due to the heat. Coyotes live in burrows under the ground to keep themselves cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

                   OLIVE TREE  

Something the Chaparral is most famous for is its olive trees and olive oil. These trees are adapted to hot dry summers by flowering in mid to late spring, taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and rain. These trees are incredibly drought resistance. Olive Trees have large root systems and have a large internal storages of water. Olive tree's leaves are small, dense, and the stoma is only on the lower side of the leaf, these features allow the leafs to control transpiration. One of the most widely known parasites of the Olive Tree are Olive Fruit Flies. The fly larvae feed inside the fruit, destroying it and allowing bacteria to come in and to rot. When a crop of olives is infested with olive fruit flies it can drop the value of Olive Oil by 80%.

CACTUS WREN
Cactus Wrens are primarily found in the chaparral of North America. The male and female are both brown and dust colors so they are easily camouflaged in the environment. They have adapted to the climate through their foraging behaviors. In the mornings when it is cooler, Cactus Wren will search for food on the ground and as the day goes on they will continue their search in tree canopies. These birds get most of their water from the food that they eat. The Cactus Wren also provides an example of commensalism. Female Cactus Wren make their nests in chaparral shrub that has just been burned from fire. The thorny shrub protects the cactus wren from predators, but the chaparral shrub is neither   benefited or harmed.

                                                            SAN JOACHIM KIT FOX
     San Joachim Kit Foxes are nocturnal animals in the Chaparral. The pads on their feet are hairy to help give them traction on the sandy soil of the chaparral. Because of the intense heat, San Joachim Kit Foxes live in dens under ground or in man made structures. They eat small rodents, birds and vegetation. Another Fox found in the Chaparral is the Grey fox. The grey fox is also nocturnal, lives in dens, and has a similar diet. The two foxes are an example of interspecific competition.                        
                                                                                                       
   

 BLUE OAK
Blue Oak trees are found mostly in the Chaparral regions of California. They have adapted to heat and can survive in temperatures above 100F for extensive periods of time. They have waxy coating on their leaves to help retain moisture and have extensive root systems to absorb water. An example of mutualism in the Chaparral is between the Blue Oak tree and the Coyote Shrub. The Coyote Shrub can survive in bad soil, but will help the soil obtain nutrients again. The Blue Oak provides shade for the shrub and the Coyote Shrub enhances the soil under the tree.