Plants
Vegetation
Throughout the rainy winter season, the chaparral's environment is fertile and green. These areas of the world usually have a dense growth of evergreen shrubs as well as short, drought-resistant scrub oak or pine trees, growing around 3.3 - 9.8 feet tall. These plants have small, leathery leaves that are resistant to water loss since the plants are dormant during summertime. The shrubs provide food and protection for the animals living here as well as reduce erosion and mass soil movement. But be careful of the poison-oak tree. Fun Fact: Many of the plants found in chaparrals are also found in desert biomes since chaparrals border deserts. |
Soil
The soil in chaparrals is often thin and infertile. Removing the plants of the chaparrals whose roots are held in the soil causes major problems such as mudslides especially during the rainy winter season. Moreover, there are frequent fires in chaparrals in the late summer and fall times. However, the plants are adapted to these fires and grow best after such events since nutrient minerals are released from the aerial parts of the plants that are burned. Thus, the fire does not kill the underground parts and seeds of many plants, creating new nutrient minerals for them to use for growth during the rainy winter season. |
Olive tree (Olea europaea)
To be able to survive in a hot and dry climate, olive trees have small leaves with a protective coating and hairy undersides that slows transpiration. Olive oil harvested from the olives is used as fuel and in cooking and cosmetics.
To be able to survive in a hot and dry climate, olive trees have small leaves with a protective coating and hairy undersides that slows transpiration. Olive oil harvested from the olives is used as fuel and in cooking and cosmetics.
Sources:
- http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/images/chaparral.jpg
Environment Seventh Edition (Peter H. Raven, Linda R. Berg, David M. Hassenzahl)
- http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_rb160.pdf
- http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/chaparral_biome_facts/169/
- http://www.goldridge08.com/biomes/pict/chap%20olive.jpg
- https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFq8MqnXLcMA2GHSgQ-QEKrKgsuB-zhfSnLSptAWyvvV-hnSIflA