By Sarah Rosenberger
and
Alex Lopez
Location
of Chaparrals
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/images/biomes_map_big_jpg_image.html
This world map shows the eight
different biomes of the world. The chaparral is indicated in brown. It is
located near the Mediterranean Sea, along the southern coast of Australia and
in California.
http://www.californiachaparral.com/factsandmyths/wheretofindchaparral.html
We are focusing on California
chaparral, which is shown in the blue. The chaparral in California extends from
the Santa Lucia Mountains of the central California coast and the Transverse
Range through southern California. The chaparral covers 5% of California,
almost 8,000 square miles and altitudes from sea level to 11,500 feet.
(Bersbech 1)
http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/angeles/about-forest
This blog focuses on the Angeles
National Forest, specifically Eaton Canyon in Pasadena, CA.
http://www.edenhurstgallery.com/library/newdetails/366-brown-stream-from-eaton-cyna.jpg
Modern day photo of Eaton Canyon.
We took a trip to Eaton Canyon in 2012 and noticed a drastic change in the scenery from the painting in 1920.
The chaparral is known to be
“California’s most extensive, native plant community” (California Chaparral
Institute, par. 1). The temperature is usually hot and dry during the
summers and rainy and mild in the winters. It only receives 12-40 inches
of rain per year. The hot summers usually cause fires, which the plants and
animals of the chaparral have adapted to. The chaparral has a lot of Oak,
Pine and Mahogany trees, such as the Blue Oak. It also has a lot of shrubs,
such as the Narrow Leaf Golden Brush. Due to its hot and dry climate, most of
the plants are fire-adapted and actually need fire to regenerate. Their
waxy, leathery, thick leaves have adapted to the climate and store water in
order to survive with as little water possible. (Sophia W.)
Succulents that store water
Oak Tree native to the Chaparral
One can feel the waxy texture of the leaves
The animals also have adapted to
fires and the hot summers. They have learned how to obtain water,
and conserve it. Some animals in the chaparral are invertebrates, birds,
reptiles, and mammals such as Bewick's wren, California quail, California
striped racer snake, northern red diamond rattle snake, orange-throated
whiptail lizard, pocket mouse, deer mouse, kangaroo rats, chipmunk, rabbit,
fox, deer, golden jackal, coyote, and mountain lion. (Sophia W.)
Bewick's Wren
http://www.roysephotos.com/BewicksWren.html
California Striped Racer Snake
http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/m.l.lateralis.html
Orange-throated Whiptail Lizard
http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/a.h.beldingi.html
Golden Jackal
http://bhavanajagat.com/tag/negri-bodies/
Human
Relationship with Chaparrals
The
chaparral provides humans with many resources, such as timber, an ideal
location to live due to its climate and different plants, such as
the Larrea Tridentata, also known as the chaparral herb.
http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/1384/larrea-tridentata-creosote-bush/
Larrea Tridentata, also known as
the chaparral herb, can be found in chaparral regions, and is a Native American
remedy for "arthritis, colds, rheumatism, skin sores and
wounds, urinary infections, tuberculosis" (All 4 Natural Health).
http://www.pollenlibrary.com/Specie/Larrea+tridentata/library_images/species_maps/Larrea-tridentata.png
It can be found in the lime green
regions.
Human Impacts
Another human impact hurting
chaparrals is air pollution. Air pollution is the most serious pollution
for chaparral because it harms the pine trees such as the Ponderosa Pine and
the Jeffrey pine. Also, humans have cut down trees for fire wood, which
disturbs the birds and animals' habitat. (Bersbech 12)
Lastly, construction of roads and
oil drilling causes fragmentation which isolates habitats. Large
predators have rapidly declined in numbers due to hunting, which allows larger
populations of deer and other herbivores to over graze. Also, humans have
brought plants that are not native to these areas, and because people want to
live near water or participate in water activities, humans have disrupted
aquatic habitats. (Olson)
Protected
Areas
· Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA
· Cabrillo National Monument
· Channel Islands National Park
· McGinty Mountain Preserve Nature Conservancy-Preserve
· San Dimas
Biosphere Reserve
The conservation status of these
areas is vulnerable.
Future of
Chaparrals
Humans build homes in and near
the chaparrals. Because of this, the community makes an effort to
suppress fires, but fires are an important part of the biome. This
allows brush and highly flammable material to build up so when a fire does
occur it becomes massive like the Angeles Nation Forest station
fire. People will not stop suppressing these fires as long as their
homes would be in danger. Therefore, we predict an increasing number
of forest fires. (Fitzmorris)
We also predict continued
fragmentation, because Americans prioritize economics over most else.
Therefore, continued construction will occur in chaparrals meaning more
degradation to the land and greater separation of habitats due to additional
roads. (Fitzmorris)
How to
Maintain Balance Between Humans and Chaparrals
First, humans should not continue
building homes in the high regions of chaparrals. This only adds to
the incentive to suppress fires and fragmentation due to roads. Also,
controlled fires should be put into effect on a regular pattern in order to
prevent brush build up and provide the biome one of its most important aspects.
Finally, hunting should not be permitted and ideally predators can
re-inhabit the land allowing them to feed on herbivores and decrease the amount
of grazing occurring.
By Sarah Rosenberger
and
Alex Lopez
Location
of Chaparrals
http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/images/biomes_map_big_jpg_image.html
This world map shows the eight
different biomes of the world. The chaparral is indicated in brown. It is
located near the Mediterranean Sea, along the southern coast of Australia and
in California.
http://www.californiachaparral.com/factsandmyths/wheretofindchaparral.html
We are focusing on California
chaparral, which is shown in the blue. The chaparral in California extends from
the Santa Lucia Mountains of the central California coast and the Transverse
Range through southern California. The chaparral covers 5% of California,
almost 8,000 square miles and altitudes from sea level to 11,500 feet.
(Bersbech 1)
http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/angeles/about-forest
This blog focuses on the Angeles
National Forest, specifically Eaton Canyon in Pasadena, CA.
Modern day photo of Eaton Canyon.
We took a trip to Eaton Canyon in 2012 and noticed a drastic change in the scenery from the painting in 1920.
and
Alex Lopez
Location of Chaparrals
This world map shows the eight different biomes of the world. The chaparral is indicated in brown. It is located near the Mediterranean Sea, along the southern coast of Australia and in California.
We are focusing on California chaparral, which is shown in the blue. The chaparral in California extends from the Santa Lucia Mountains of the central California coast and the Transverse Range through southern California. The chaparral covers 5% of California, almost 8,000 square miles and altitudes from sea level to 11,500 feet. (Bersbech 1)
This blog focuses on the Angeles National Forest, specifically Eaton Canyon in Pasadena, CA.
We took a trip to Eaton Canyon in 2012 and noticed a drastic change in the scenery from the painting in 1920.
The chaparral is known to be “California’s most extensive, native plant community” (California Chaparral Institute, par. 1). The temperature is usually hot and dry during the summers and rainy and mild in the winters. It only receives 12-40 inches of rain per year. The hot summers usually cause fires, which the plants and animals of the chaparral have adapted to. The chaparral has a lot of Oak, Pine and Mahogany trees, such as the Blue Oak. It also has a lot of shrubs, such as the Narrow Leaf Golden Brush. Due to its hot and dry climate, most of the plants are fire-adapted and actually need fire to regenerate. Their waxy, leathery, thick leaves have adapted to the climate and store water in order to survive with as little water possible. (Sophia W.)
Succulents that store water
Oak Tree native to the Chaparral
One can feel the waxy texture of the leaves
The animals also have adapted to
fires and the hot summers. They have learned how to obtain water,
and conserve it. Some animals in the chaparral are invertebrates, birds,
reptiles, and mammals such as Bewick's wren, California quail, California
striped racer snake, northern red diamond rattle snake, orange-throated
whiptail lizard, pocket mouse, deer mouse, kangaroo rats, chipmunk, rabbit,
fox, deer, golden jackal, coyote, and mountain lion. (Sophia W.)
Bewick's Wren
California Striped Racer Snake
Orange-throated Whiptail Lizard
Golden Jackal
Human
Relationship with Chaparrals
Benefits
The chaparral provides humans with many resources, such as timber, an ideal location to live due to its climate and different plants, such as the Larrea Tridentata, also known as the chaparral herb.
The chaparral provides humans with many resources, such as timber, an ideal location to live due to its climate and different plants, such as the Larrea Tridentata, also known as the chaparral herb.
http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/1384/larrea-tridentata-creosote-bush/
Larrea Tridentata, also known as
the chaparral herb, can be found in chaparral regions, and is a Native American
remedy for "arthritis, colds, rheumatism, skin sores and
wounds, urinary infections, tuberculosis" (All 4 Natural Health).
http://www.pollenlibrary.com/Specie/Larrea+tridentata/library_images/species_maps/Larrea-tridentata.png
It can be found in the lime green
regions.
Human Impacts
Humans have impacted chaparrals
in a negative way. Unfortunately, due to human impact and urbanization,
only 30% of chaparral remains intact. This is due to nearby developing cities
and neighborhoods. For example, in Eaton Canyon houses can be seen in the
mountains surrounding the chaparral. These residents suppress fires in
the chaparral, which disturbs the natural process of the plants because it does
not allow them to regenerate. This creates debris build up, leading to
forest fires. (Bersbech 4)
Another human impact hurting
chaparrals is air pollution. Air pollution is the most serious pollution
for chaparral because it harms the pine trees such as the Ponderosa Pine and
the Jeffrey pine. Also, humans have cut down trees for fire wood, which
disturbs the birds and animals' habitat. (Bersbech 12)
Lastly, construction of roads and
oil drilling causes fragmentation which isolates habitats. Large
predators have rapidly declined in numbers due to hunting, which allows larger
populations of deer and other herbivores to over graze. Also, humans have
brought plants that are not native to these areas, and because people want to
live near water or participate in water activities, humans have disrupted
aquatic habitats. (Olson)
Protected
Areas
· Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, CA
· Cabrillo National Monument
· Channel Islands National Park
· McGinty Mountain Preserve Nature Conservancy-Preserve
· San Dimas
Biosphere Reserve
· Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The conservation status of these
areas is vulnerable.
Future of
Chaparrals
Humans build homes in and near the chaparrals. Because of this, the community makes an effort to suppress fires, but fires are an important part of the biome. This allows brush and highly flammable material to build up so when a fire does occur it becomes massive like the Angeles Nation Forest station fire. People will not stop suppressing these fires as long as their homes would be in danger. Therefore, we predict an increasing number of forest fires. (Fitzmorris)
Humans build homes in and near the chaparrals. Because of this, the community makes an effort to suppress fires, but fires are an important part of the biome. This allows brush and highly flammable material to build up so when a fire does occur it becomes massive like the Angeles Nation Forest station fire. People will not stop suppressing these fires as long as their homes would be in danger. Therefore, we predict an increasing number of forest fires. (Fitzmorris)
We also predict continued
fragmentation, because Americans prioritize economics over most else.
Therefore, continued construction will occur in chaparrals meaning more
degradation to the land and greater separation of habitats due to additional
roads. (Fitzmorris)
How to
Maintain Balance Between Humans and Chaparrals
First, humans should not continue
building homes in the high regions of chaparrals. This only adds to
the incentive to suppress fires and fragmentation due to roads. Also,
controlled fires should be put into effect on a regular pattern in order to
prevent brush build up and provide the biome one of its most important aspects.
Finally, hunting should not be permitted and ideally predators can
re-inhabit the land allowing them to feed on herbivores and decrease the amount
of grazing occurring.
Assessment
of Current Impacts on Chaparrals
Soil
|
Plant Life
|
Rivers
|
|
Urbanization
|
Soil erosion
|
Removes vegetation/increases
foreign plants
|
Causes sedimentation
|
Fire Suppression
|
Prevents ash from enriching soil
|
Stops regeneration and decreases
nutrients
|
Lack of flow of nutrients to
stream
|
Oil Drilling
|
Contamination of soil/soil
erosion
|
Introduces invasive weeds/reduction
of plant diversity
|
Erosion and runoff to streams
impacting fish
|
Works Cited
All
4 Natural Health. Ed.
Anonymous. All 4 Natural Health, 2007. Web. 2 Dec. 2012.
Bersbech,
Chris. "World Wildlife Fund Ecoregion NA 1203 – California montane
chaparral and woodlands." Colby.
Ed. Anonymous. Colby College, 30 Apr. 2003.
Wikipedia. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. <http://www.colby.edu/biology/BI131/Lab/Ecoregion%20Sample%202%20Chris%20Bersbach.pdf>.
California
Chaparral Institute. Chaparral Facts. Ed. Anonymous. California
Chaparral
Institute, 1 Dec. 2012. Google.
Web. 2 Dec. 2012.
Fitzmorris,
Patricia K. "Wildfire Management in Los Angeles' Wildland-Urban Interface:
Identifying Better Strategies for
Reconciling Wildfires with LA's Communities." .
Ed. Anonymous. Occidental College, May
2010. Web. 2 Dec. 2012.
Olson,
David. World Wildlife. Ed. Robin Cox. The Nature Conservancy, n.d. Web.
2 Dec.
W,
Sophia. Caliornia Chaparral. Ed. Anonymous. N.p., 2002. Web. 2 Dec.
2012.
