Ecology by Helen KafkaEcology is the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. The California Chaparral supports many different species of animal and plant life. Each living organism affects another species ability for survival. meaning all living things contribute to the balance of an ecosystem. An example of this is when a plant or a tree drops their seeds. Other animals including birds pick it up and drop it in a new area. In some cases seeds become attached to an animals fur and stay there until they have fallen off or been removed. Without the existence of the animals in the Chaparral, the plant life would not be able to repopulate and spread their seeds. Plants and trees are also used as food for animals.They provide animals with shade and protection to live. Foliage keeps the climate at a reasonable temperature. Animals are able to hunt or hide behind the foliage of a plant or tree. Plants provide essential habitats for an assortment of animals to live in. Without the foliage in the Chaparral, animals would not be able to hunt easily or have a stable environment to live in. The temperatures would also change due to there being a lack of shade from the trees.
ABIOTIC FACTORS IN THE CALIFORNIACHAPARRAL EXAMPLES: MILD WINTERS, HOT AND DRY SUMMERS, FIRES, ROCKS, SUNLIGHT http://californiarangeland.ucdavis.edu/Annual_Rangeland_Handbook/Ecology/ http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/chaparral.html http://www.californiachaparral.com/images/Whittaker_Eco_of_Serpentine_Soils_1954_II.pdf http://www.californiachaparral.com/chaparralfacts.html http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/ |