California's Major Biomes
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Chaparral-Chaparral climate,is a hot, dry, and mild climate in summer with rainy and cool winters
- Summers are so hot that there are frequent fires and dry spells -Consequently, these regions are dominated by fire-adapted shrubs. - Found in the mountains, and the average mountain temperature in Southern California is from 32-60 °F - The California Chaparral climate is found at latitude 35-40° North, and longitude is 118-123° West. -The animals that live in this environment have also adapted to the frequent fires and long dry spells, because they learned how to find water, and conserve it. -These include invertebrates, birds, reptiles,and mammals such as Bewick's wren, California quail California striped racer snake, northern red diamond rattle snake, orange-throated whiptail lizard, pocket mouse, deer mouse, kangaroo rats, chipmunk, rabbit, fox, deer, coyote, lynx, and mountain lion. -Most of the 12-40 inches per year of precipitation is in the form of rain: fall, winter, and spring |
Wetlands- Wetlands of California include estuaries, marches , and perennial riparian areas
- They are neither completely terrestrial nor completely aquatic - common animasls: micro-organisms, birds, mosquito, dragonfly, plus toads, the leopard frog, tiger salamander, pupfish, crayfish, beaver, plants such as sedges and bulrushes, berry bushes, shrub willows, and cottonwoods. |
Desert- All of the deserts of California are characterized by low rainfall, caused by the rain shadow of mountain ranges to the west of each desert.
-The Mojave Desert receives between 3 to 10 inches of rain per year, while the Colorado Desert receives between 2 to 6 inches. - common plants: crestote bush , blackbrush, greasewood, and saltbush. -The Mojave Desert is considered a high desert, because elevations can range up to 11,000 feet -The Colorado Desert is a low desert, with elevations running from −230 to 1,000 feet -The Great Basin desert in California can also reach up to 11,000 feet (3,400 m) of elevation |