Due to very dry conditions and poor soil quality, only a small variety of plants can survive. Most of these plants include large and small evergreen shrubs with thick, leathery leaves. There are very few trees in chaparral regions. Like desert plants, plants in the chaparral have many adaptations for life in this hot, dry region.
Some chaparral plants have hard, thin, needle-like leaves to reduce water loss. Other plants have hair on their leaves to collect water from the air. Many fire resistant plants are also found in chaparral regions. Some plants such as the chamise even promote fires with their flammable oils. These plants then grow in the ashes after the area has been burned. Other plants combat fires by remaining below ground and only sprouting after a fire.
Examples of chaparral plants include: sage, rosemary, thyme, scrub oaks, eucalyptus, chamise shrubs, willow trees, pines, poison oak and olive trees.
Animals:
Chaparrals are home to many burrowing animals. These animals include ground squirrels, jack rabbits, gophers, skunks, toads, lizards, snakes, and mice. Other animals include aardwolves, pumas, foxes, owls, eagles, deer, quail, wild goats, spiders, scorpions, and various kinds of insects.
Many chaparral animals are nocturnal. They burrow underground to escape the heat in the day and come out at night to feed. This allows them to conserve water, energy and also keeps the animal safe during fires. Other chaparral animals, like some mice and lizards, secrete a semi-solid urine in order to reduce water loss.
* When you have more than one species in a given niche, then if one species declines for whatever reason, there are other species which can replace it, and the ecosystem as a whole remains functional.
Some chaparral plants have hard, thin, needle-like leaves to reduce water loss. Other plants have hair on their leaves to collect water from the air. Many fire resistant plants are also found in chaparral regions. Some plants such as the chamise even promote fires with their flammable oils. These plants then grow in the ashes after the area has been burned. Other plants combat fires by remaining below ground and only sprouting after a fire.
Examples of chaparral plants include: sage, rosemary, thyme, scrub oaks, eucalyptus, chamise shrubs, willow trees, pines, poison oak and olive trees.
Animals:
Chaparrals are home to many burrowing animals. These animals include ground squirrels, jack rabbits, gophers, skunks, toads, lizards, snakes, and mice. Other animals include aardwolves, pumas, foxes, owls, eagles, deer, quail, wild goats, spiders, scorpions, and various kinds of insects.
Many chaparral animals are nocturnal. They burrow underground to escape the heat in the day and come out at night to feed. This allows them to conserve water, energy and also keeps the animal safe during fires. Other chaparral animals, like some mice and lizards, secrete a semi-solid urine in order to reduce water loss.
* When you have more than one species in a given niche, then if one species declines for whatever reason, there are other species which can replace it, and the ecosystem as a whole remains functional.