Synthesis Essay On Chaparral Biome

Synthesis Essay One: Chaparral
Jake Nokes Student K00701244 ([e-mail]) Login: Saki

Question A
The chaparral biome is found in small parts of most continents, central and southern California, parts of the southwest United States, the area adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, and areas of southern Australia, South Africa and Chile. The chaparral area in Santa Barbara County is the fourth largest in California in terms of acreage. Chaparral communities occur between 200 and 5000 feet elevation and are located between 32 and 41 degrees either north or south of the equator. Their location is determined by the Mediterranean climate in regions around the world and is characterized as being very hot and dry with mild winters. Annual
rainfall is relatively low, with 65 percent falling in the winter. Chaparral communities are mostly located along coasts of oceans, by the Mediterranean Sea, or in the Mediterranean basin. Chaparral communities have many different types of terrain, including flat plains, rocky hills, and rugged mountains, often parallel to the coastline, influencing and modifying climate patterns and forming distinct rain shadows and macroclimates.

Question B
The term “chaparral” comes from the Spanish Chaparro, which is a thicket of shrubby evergreen oaks or a low-growing type of vegetation.
Santa Barbara’s chaparral community is a strong example of California’s native landscape. It provides protection against erosion, allows underground water supplies to accumulate, helps to moderate local climates and provides an important habitat for a wide assortment of animals. Chaparral geography changes with climate patterns, soil type, wildfire regime, and other habitat characteristics. The near desert conditions in this area are moderated by the cold Pacific Ocean, which supports the dense chaparral vegetation. The rocky mountains of the Santa Barbara community contain a lot of vegetation that has to be well adapted to short rainy seasons, and hot, dry summers. Many species of small mammals, birds, snakes, and lizards live in the chaparral community. The chaparral is a dense forest of plants and small trees, which make it hard for larger animals such as the deer, mountain lions, and coyotes to live in the dense area so they have to live in the less dense areas or on the edges. The main controlling factor over the characteristics of the dry summer subtropical climate is the alternating influence of the subtropical high-pressure cells in summer and westerlies during the winter. The Mediterranean areas of California are constricted to the east by mountains close to the
coast.

Question C
There are many factors that contribute to a Mediterranean climate. Chaparral communities are hot and dry. The winter is mild, usually about 50 degrees Fahrenheit and most of the rain comes in winter. The summer is hot and dry and is upwards to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These factors make fires and droughts very common. During the summer the presence of a subtropical high prevents cloud development and precipitation. The presence of a cold ocean current helps the air, further reducing the chance for rain. The cloudless skies during the summer, however, increase absorption of insolation by the polluted atmosphere of many large urban areas in places like southern California causing problems of chemical smog. During the winter, the subtropical high shrinks and moves away from the climate and the subpolar low with it’s associated cyclone belts, moves in. Uplift provided by cyclonic circulation, helps bring some much-needed rain to these areas after long rainless summers; however, rapid runoff can initiate landslides and unstable slopes.

Question D
Chaparral is California’s most extensive native plant community, presented by the deep green appearance of much of the Santa Barbara community. The plants in the chaparral biome have adapted to the unusual, harsh environments in the area. Most chaparral plants have large, hard leaves, which hold moisture, and are also very well adapted to fires. Frequent summer and autumn fires, brought on by months without rain, serve as a natural means of renewing vegetative growth and of maintaining the health and vitality of the native plant communities. It is also important that chaparral plants have the ability to produce seeds at an early age. It speeds up the regrowth process and allows the chaparral community to grow back faster. A lot of the chaparral community contains low growing shrubs. These plants have extensive root systems designed to hold as much water as possible. Shallow roots extend horizontally close to the soil surface so that when it rains they are very efficient at catching water. Taproots extend deep into the soil to capture groundwater. Sclerophyllous “hard leaves” evergreen shrubs dominate chaparral vegetation. Chaparral plants are highly adaptive to natural fires that occur once in a while. The dense, chaparral forest serves as camouflage for most animals in the area.

Question E
The Ceanothus magacarpus is a successful and dominant plant in the chaparral community in Santa Barbara.
When in season, the filled, white blossoms reveal the coverage of C. megacarpus on the southern slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains. This plant is able to be successful in chaparral communities because of its ability to gather water from deep pockets in the area surrounding them and is able conserve what is gained. The Ceanothus magacarpus shrub shades the ground to the drip line of the plant, reducing evaporation from the soil and reducing the competition for water around the area. The arrangement of photosynthesis cells allows the plant to receive a larger light-gathering surface. The Ceanothus magacarpus leaf formation provides a reflective surface and reduces airflow, reducing evaporation. The lower surface of the leaf contains trichomes, which are hair like extensions that reflect light to reduce evaporation from the lower surface of the leaf. The leaves of the plant contain stomata within pits in the lower surface of the leaves. This allows the stomata to open and release oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, which reduces evaporation and water loss. The adaptation of these plants to the chaparral community allows it to be one of the most dominant plants in the Santa Barbara
community.