Find Your Chaparral
Morale!
By: Alisa, Kathryn, and Kyle
Plant Adaptation
• Blue oaks have adapted to drought and dry climates. They
can survive temperatures above 100° F for several weeks at a
time. The Average maximum temperatures in July can range
from 70° to 100° F. In January, minimum temperatures can
range from 10° to 35° F. Annual precipitation averages from
20 to 40 inches and mostly falls in the form of rain.
Animal Adaptation
• Jackrabbits have
adapted to not require
much water, and live off
of sagebrush and cacti,
which are native to the
Chaparral Biome.
• Jackrabbits have huge
ears. This regulates their
body heat by increasing
or decreasing the blood
flow through its ears. This
helps the jackrabbit
absorb heat and cool off.
Tourism Activities
• Because of the mountainous terrain, hiking is very
popular in the Chaparral region
• Bird watching is a common tourist activity, as there
are hundreds of bird species in the Chaparral region,
such as the Cactus Wren.
Critical Environmental Issues
• Because of the hot, dry climate, there is a very
high risk of wildfires in the Chaparral biome
• Forests are supposed to burn naturally every 3040 years, so tourists should be aware of this
when they are spending time in the back country
Location
• Most commonly found in the West of most continents, around
30-50 degrees North and 30-40 degrees South of the equator
Landscape
• Flat plains, rocky hills and mountain slopes
are found all throughout
• Natural fires cause loose ground
• Soil is nutrient poor and vulnerable to erosion
Climate
• Mild, moist, but not much rain
• Biome only gets about 10-17 inches of rain all
year, and most of it comes in the winter.
• Hot, dry summers
• During the summer the only moisture is fog off of
the water.
• The temperature range
• is between 30°
• and 100° F annually.
Seasonal Information
• Chaparral climate caters to tourists year round
with hot dry summers and mild winters.
• However, summers can be hot enough to
cause a drought (and fire).
• With 4 distinct seasons, the time of best time
of year to visit is left to personal preference.
Unique Facts
• High likelihood of fires in the summer
• The five main Chaparral regions in the world occupy
less than 5% of the earth's surface yet are home to
about 20% of the world’s vascular plant species.
• Most of the vegetation is considered sclerophyll,
which means 'hard-leaved' in Greek.
Description of Plants and Animals
• Varying conditions have led to highly adaptable
animals living in the region.
• Some include: coyotes, jackals, and mule deer.
• Smaller organisms that dominate the region include
the preying mantis, lady bug, and honeybees.
• Most plants in the region contain leaves with highly
flammable substance, making them very fire-prone
Bibliography
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http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/text/biomes/biomes.chaparral.soil.html
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/chaparral.htm
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/
http://blueplanetbiomes.org/chaparral_animal_page.htm
http://blueplanetbiomes.org/chaparral_plant_page.htm
http://bioexpedition.com/chaparral-biome/
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/calif_chaparral.htm