Biome Characteristics: Chaparral BY: Nick Quintana Ashley Wagner Period 2

World Map Chaparral biome occurs in California, Oregon, South Africa, and Australia

Abiotic Factors Temperature is an abiotic factor Dry climate is very common in the chaparral many fires occur that burn everything away that cause more fires. Fires- Fires kill and burn everything in the chaparral Poor soil- This affects the plants and animals in the chaparral

Biotic Factors Some biotic factors are- Rattlesnakes Falcons Coyotes Rodents Dry grasses, Shrubs, Blue oak, sagebrush

Food Web

Energy Pyramid

Flow of store of nutrients NPP- The chaparral biome has an average net primary productivity of about 2,800 kcal/m2 per year Flow of store of nutrients B L S

Climate The temperature of the chaparral biome can range from 30oF – 100oF The climate in the winter is moist but not rainy. In the summer it is very hot and dry

Succession Because of the hot and dry climate during the summer wild fires occur. After these fires burn and kill all the plants in the area, they grow back. Cactus wrens grow back soon after the area burns and sagebrush can grow because they do not need a lot of water and that brings animals that survived the fire and the cycle begins over again.

Pyramid of numbers/Biomass Pyramid

Trophic levels The trophic levels is what the levels occupy in the food chain and what it eats

Animals and Adaptations 1. Cactus Wrens- they like to reproduce in Chaparral that just finished burning 2. Jackrabbit- They can change the blood flow through their large ears. This can either help them cool off or absorb heat. That’s how they can live in a Chaparral. 3. Fox- They hunt alone in the Chaparral. They like to eat birds, insects, nuts, and berries. 4. Jackal- The Jackal eats insects, rodent, and frogs. 5. Puma- The Puma adapts to its environment very well. It will eat insects, birds, mice, and will kill all small to medium animals that it sees.

Animal Adaptation continued 6. Goat- The Goats wool will help the goat survive through the harsh climate. The horns also help the goat defend itself from predators. 7. Mountain lion- Fur on mountain lion helps it stay warm and eats other small prey. 8. Rattlesnakes- Eat various rodents and insects that are around. 9. Falcons- Fly around and eat snakes and other small animals. 10. Coyote- Main predator that eats most small mammals.

Plant Adaptation 1. Blue Oak- Blue oak can stand heat up to 100o F 2. Sagebrush- Grows in dry places where most plants don’t. 3. Coyote Brush- A Coyote Brush is like a dandelion, its pappus blows off allowing it to spread its seeds. 4. Fairy Duster- This plant is eaten by every animal in the chaparral. 5. Manazanita- when the plant is over watered it dies out

Niches The fox is one of the main predators in the chaparral biome. They hunt birds, insects, and smaller herbivores and keep populations down. Cactus wrens reproduce right after the chaparral burns. Coyote brush have small waxy leaves that help them retain water during droughts so they don’t die. Mountain lions hunt deer and other animals to keep the population down. Fairy dusters are eaten by almost all animals so they provide nutrients for them

Habitat Hot and dry climate that has drought resistant plants. Animals in chaparral live in many different plants such as sagebrush and blue oak. The Blue Oak is common in California. The bark is gray with cracks. The name blue oak comes from the blue green leaves on the tree.

Human Activity 1. Mostly all wild fires are caused by humans either by power line failures or vehicle fires 2. Humans builds attractions on chaparral biomes which is a threat to the chaparral. 3. many trees and homes to birds and animals are cut down to help population. 4. The creation of water diversions and damming lead to the creation of endangered species 5.Many animals are hunted in chaparral and that causes extinction.

Threats to Chaparral Study(Bad) This study shows how excessive fires, fuel treatments by fire agencies, and misconception from the public are destroying chaparrals and changing them into weedy grasslands as opposed to scrublands. http://www.californiachaparral.com/threatstochap arral.html

The Chaparral is Not our Enemy(Good) This study talks about how chaparral biomes are good and are home to unique organisms because there are very few of these biomes on earth. http://www.californiachaparral.org/images/Chap arral_is_not_the_Enemy_R._Muller.pdf

Comparison The first study is more about how the chaparral biome is being damaged and if we keep damaging them they will disappear while the second study talks about how the chaparral is good and we need to appreciate its uniqueness.