Chaparral: A plant community composed of dense, impenetrable, shrubby vegetation adapted to a Mediterranean climate with winter-wet and summer-dry seasons. The plant community is well-developed in the mountains of San Diego County.
Following periodic brush fires, many of the shrub species resprout from subterranean lignotubers. See Article About Ashes To Wildflowers Coastal Sage Scrub: A plant community similar to the chaparral, but typically found at lower elevations generally below 2, feet. It is dominated by aromatic coastal sagebrush Artemisia californica and black sage Salvia mellifera , and is common in the hills bordering Palomar College.
Unfortunately, this plant community is prime land for developers and is rapidly being replaced by housing developments in San Diego County. It is now considered to be an endangered threatened plant community in southern California.
Shrubs of the coastal sage scrub are adapted to the long, dry summers in several ways. During this time they may drop many of their brittle, shriveled leaves or produce smaller leaves on secondary shoots. Root systems are generally shallow because the plants are inactive much of the time. It is relatively easy to clear away desiccated shrubs with a heavy hoe during the summer drought season, compared with well-anchored shrubs of true chaparral. The oily, resinous leaves also help to conserve vital moisture, but increase their flammability.
The dominant shrubs are fire adapted with seeds that readily germinate after fire. This also includes numerous species of post burn wildflowers that bloom in profusion following the winter and spring rains. These shrubs are vulnerable to excessive or poorly-timed fires, particularly when competing with naturalized grasses and other weedy species.
The common vine throughout the coastal sage scrub called wild cucumber Marah macrocarpus sprouts soon after fires from a large, subterranean caudex. Under ideal natural conditions, complete recovery of coastal sage scrub after a fire is about 15 to 20 years.
Ecosystem: All of the organisms in a natural community or biome plus all of the associated environmental factors with which they interact. The term ecosystem could actually be applied to any of the terrestrial biomes or plant communities.
For example, the tundra biome could also be referred to as tundra ecosystem; the chaparral plant community could also be referred to as the chaparral ecosystem. The term ecosystem is well-suited for aquatic communities such as ponds, lakes, streams and even the ocean. In fact, oceanography is the study of the ocean ecosystem. Including ocean, topsoil and atmosphere, the earth is a large, complex ecosystem called the biosphere; however, in terms of the vast universe it is but a mere dot.
A self-contained spaceship in which gasses and waste are recycled may also be thought of as an ecosystem. Biosphere: Earth Ecosystem : The zone of atmosphere, land and water at the surface of the earth occupied by living things.
In grave danger by the effects of humans, including overpopulation, pollution and exploitation. Environment: The sum total of physical and biotic factors that surround an organism or population of organisms.
Ecology: The study of the interrelationships between plants and animals and their environment. The term environment includes the sum total of physical and biotic conditions and influences that surround an organism or population of organisms. Evergreen trees cannot survive the harsh winters of tundra, with severe, ice-laden winds, frozen soil permafrost and intense UV radiation.
Kate M. Jun 19, Explanation: The exact number of biomes depends on who you ask. More examples of biome classifications are below. Related questions How are niches and habitats different?
How are niches influenced by competition? How do overlapping niches lead to competition? How does competition affect niches? Our first two virtual biomes are the desert and rainforest. Compare how the two are different and how they are the similar. Write up your results in our biologist notebook. Karla Moeller. Boundless Biomes.
Try our Virtual Biomes. Biome Map Worksheet. Biome Matching Game Worksheet. By volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site.
Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program. If you are interested in helping with the website we have a Volunteers page to get the process started. Digging Deeper. Digging Deeper: Depression and the Past. Digging Deeper: Germs and Disease. Digging Deeper: Milk and Immunity. How Do We See? How Do We Sense Smell? How Do We Sense Taste? How Do We Sense Touch? What is Evolutionary Medicine? What's a Biologist?
What's a GMO? What's a Genome? Boundless: not having any limits or boundaries. Diversity: having many different types, or kinds, a variety. Habitat: the place where an animal or plant lives. Herd: a group of animals that lives and moves together.
What's a Biome? Tropical rainforest. Image by WorldWideHappyMedia. Temperate forest. Image by Umberto Salvagnin. A desert with sand dunes. Image by Jon Sullivan. Tundra in Greenland.
Image by Hannes Grobe. Boreal forest of Alaska. Image by L. Image by Tony Hisgett. Savanna in Tanzania. Image by Nevit Dilmen. Lakes are usually freshwater, like this lake in Pakistan.
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