Biology 3
Santa Monica Mountains Field Trip Worksheet
Dr. Mary Colavito
Complete this worksheet as an aid to studying for the Final Exam.
1. Southern California has a “Mediterranean Climate”.
a. Describe the major features of this climate.
b. Name three other areas of the world that have a “Mediterranean climate”.
2. What are some differences between a North-facing slope and a South-facing slope in
the Santa Monica Mountains? Why are those differences present?
3. The dominant type of vegetation in a Mediterranean climate is usually Chaparral or
something similar. Describe two ways that Chaparral plants are adapted to a
“Mediterranean climate”.
a. Name at least two dominant plant species that are found in the True Chaparral.
b. Name at least two dominant plant species that are found in the Coastal Sage
Scrub (Soft Chaparral).
4. Name at least one dominant plant found in the “Streamside Woodland”.
5. Which types of trees can grow at distances from the stream bed and how can they
survive in this arid environment?
6. The Chaparral ecosystem can support numerous species of weeds. A weed is any
“unwanted” plant that may be growing so rapidly that it can displace other plants.
Name two species of weeds observed along the trail and identify whether they are
edible, poisonous or medicinal.
7. Which types of birds find the tall trees of the chaparral to be particularly important
nesting habitats?
8. Fire plays an integral role in the life of the Chaparral Ecosystem. Describe two
important ways in which Chaparral plants may recover after a fire.
9. What is the voice of the Chaparral? Describe its vocalization. Why can’t we see it?
10. Name three types of symbiosis. Give an example of each kind of symbiosis from what
you learned and observed in the Santa Monica Mountains.