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California coastal sage and chaparral

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The California coastal sage and chaparral (Spanish: Salvia y chaparral costero de California) is a Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregion, defined by the World Wildlife Fund, located in southwestern California (United States) and northwestern Baja California (Mexico). It is part of the larger California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. The ecoregion corresponds to the USDA Southern California ecoregion section 261B,[2] and to the EPA Southern California/Northern Baja Coast ecoregion 8.[3]

California coastal sage and chaparral
Coastal sage and chaparral of Santa Clarita Woodlands Park
Ecology
RealmNearctic
BiomeMediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub
Borders
Bird species291[1]
Mammal species74[1]
Geography
Area32,970 km2 (12,730 sq mi)
Countries
States
RiversLos Angeles River, San Diego River, Malibu Creek, San Gabriel River, Santa Ana River, Santa Clara River, Tijuana River, Ventura River
Climate typeMediterranean (Csa)
Conservation
Conservation statusCritical/Endangered[2]
Global 200Yes
Habitat loss18.5%[1]
Protected17.8%[1]

Geography

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The California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion covers about 12,730 square miles (32,970 km2) of coastal terraces, plains, and foothills between Santa Barbara, California and northeastern Baja California.[4] This includes the southwestern slopes of the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges, the entirety of the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains, the Channel Islands, Guadalupe Island, and Cedros Island.[citation needed]

Major urban centers located within this ecoregion include Greater Los Angeles, San Diego-Tijuana, Ensenada, and Tecate.

Climate

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The climate is Mediterranean, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.[2] Almost all of the daily maximum temperatures lie between 16 and 27 °C (61 and 81 °F).[4] Mean annual precipitation is generally below 12 inches (300 mm),[4] although can be as high as 26 inches (660 mm) in the Santa Monica Mountains and hills around the Los Angeles Basin.[3]

Flora

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The plant species of the California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion are diverse, with high endemism.[2] The main plant communities are coastal sage scrub, California coastal prairie, chamise chaparral, southern oak woodland, pine forests, riparian woodland, and salt marshes.[5][4]

Coast

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Sea dahlia growing on steep coastal slopes near Ensenada, Baja California

Prominent coast adjacent species include: California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) and brittlebush (Encelia californica), along with black sage (Salvia mellifera), purple sage (Salvia leucophylla or Salvia clevelandii), bush monkeyflower (Mimulus longiflorus or Mimulus aurantiacus), and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum).[5]: 328–333 

Cacti and succulents can be found in the southern areas of this coastal ecoregion in Baja California.[4] Examples of succulents in this ecoregion include: Shaw's agave (Agave shawii), coastal dudleya (Dudleya caespitosa), golden cereus (Bergerocactus emoryi), and other prickly pear (Opuntia), Yucca and Dudleya species.[2]

Some of the endemic plants to the ecoregion's southern coast zone include: San Diego thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia), San Diego ambrosia (Ambrosia pumila) and San Diego barrel cactus (Ferocactus viridescens).[citation needed]

Slopes

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Higher up from the shoreline, above an elevation of 1,000 feet (300 m),[5]: 327  the slopes are densely covered in chaparral shrubs, such as: chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), and California lilac (Ceanothus spp.) and manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos glauca, and Arctostaphylos patula) .[2][5]: 344–350  Chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) is commonplace throughout the climate zone.[citation needed] Other species include mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), silk-tassel bush (Garrya fremontii), and ribbonwood (Adenostoma sparsifolium)[5]: 350–353 

Trees

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Coastal scrub and Torrey pine in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, San Diego

California oak woodland occurs in moist areas usually up to 4,900 feet (1,500 m).[6][5]: 387  These woodlands include oak species, such as coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis), and Engelmann's oak (Quercus engelmannii). Associated species include the California black walnut (Juglans californica) on some north faces of the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, and the San Jose Hills; and poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum).[5]: 387–388 

Riparian woodlands up to 5,000 feet (1,500 m) are dominated by western sycamore (Platanus racemosa) and various willow species such as Salix gooddingii, Salix laevigata, and Salix lasiolepis. Riparian understory contains California laurel (Umbellularia californica) and Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii).[5]: 393–394 

Mountain conifers dominate above 6,000 feet (1,800 m).[5]: 327  These include species such as the sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi), Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri), Bigcone Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa), and incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens).[4]

Some endemic tree species mark niche ecological islands. One example is the rare Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana), which is only native to the coastal bluffs in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve near San Diego, and off the coast on Santa Rosa Island.[4] Another example is the Tecate Cypress (Cupressus forbesii), which only occurs in four stands near the Mexican border of California. The Tecate Cypress only occurs in alkaline soils eroded from gabbro.[5]: 399 

Channel Islands

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The Channel Islands are mostly covered in coastal sage and chamise chaparral with some oak woodland including endemic and/or rare: buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.), oaks (such as island oak—Quercus tomentella), and Dudleya species restricted to these islands.[2] Bishop pine also occurs on these islands.

Other habitats

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In and around these different habitats, this diverse ecoregion also contains 'patches' of grasslands with native or introduced grass species and serpentine barrens.[citation needed]

Seasonal wetlands, such as vernal pools, form ecological islands. There are more than 30 wildflower species that are endemic to the pools in this ecoregion, including Orcuttia californica grass.[7] One subspecies of meadow-foam, Limnanthes alba ssp. parishii is only found in the ephemeral wetlands of the Laguna Mountains (and also 800 mi or 1,300 km away in the Klamath Mountains).[5]: 395–396 

Wildfires are part of the natural fire ecology throughout the ecoregion. Habitats of this hot, dry coast must survive and revive following the regular forest fires, and the dominant plant species have adapted to recover from fires.[4]

Fauna

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A bobcat roaming the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains
See also: Wildlife of the Channel Islands of California

The coastal sage and chaparral of California are home to a variety of small mammals, such as deer mice, desert woodrats, and desert shrews. Predators include mountain lions, coyotes, grey foxes, and bobcats.[5]: 378–384 

Lizards of note include side-blotched lizards, western fence lizards, sagebrush lizards, and the San Diego subspecies of the coast horned lizard. Resident snake species include large carnivores such as common kingsnakes, gopher snakes, rosy boas, and western rattlesnakes.[5]: 365–373 

Invertebrates of note include the cheese-weed moth lacewing (Chrysoperla species). The Hermes copper and Quino checkerspot butterflies among the 200 butterfly species found here.[citation needed] Vernal pools in the ecoregion are home to Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus woottoni).[citation needed]

Birds

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Typical birds of the region include scrub jays, wrentits, and rufous-sided towhees. Predatory birds include great horned owls and red-tailed hawks.[5]: 374–377 

The California gnatcatcher is a small bird, endemic to this coastal ecoregion, which has been protected as its habitat is now designated an Important Bird Area. Other birds found here are the endemic Nutall's woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii) of the oak woodland, and the coastal populations of the protected cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus).[citation needed]

Important Bird Areas in Mexico include Isla Guadalupe and Isla Cedros, and parts of Sierra de Juárez and Sierra de San Pedro Mártir.[citation needed]

Threats and preservation

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Restored patch of coastal scrub at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

This attractive coastline is highly vulnerable to urban, recreational, and agricultural development and only 15% of original habitat is intact.[8] Habitats are vulnerable to livestock grazing, which has removed much native vegetation on the Channel Islands, such as Santa Cruz where sheep were grazed for over 100 years.

Another threat, ironically, is fire control, which only allows the amount of dry material in the forest to build up, resulting eventually in massive fires. However, in many chaparral regions such as the Santa Monica Mountains, increased fire frequency is the larger concern because fire return intervals in mature chaparral communities should be 30–150 years, unlike much of the region which often has return intervals of 20 years or less.[9][10]

There are patches of coastal sage scrub in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Joaquin Hills near Laguna Beach, and the Irvine Ranch in Orange County, California. Additional patches of coastal sage scrub exist in Southern California in the Angeles National Forest.

Protected areas

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A 2017 assessment found that 1,925 km2, or 6%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[11] Protected areas include Channel Islands National Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Point Mugu State Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Topanga State Park, Griffith Park, Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park, Ballona Wetlands State Ecological Reserve, Chino Hills State Park, Crystal Cove State Park, the Santa Rosa Plateau Reserve, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.

In Baja California, the chaparral ecology of Guadalupe Island, Isla Todos Santos, and the Coronado Islands are protected within the Baja California Pacific Islands Marine Conservation Area.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The Atlas of Global Conservation". maps.tnc.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "California coastal sage and chaparral (NA1201)". World Wildlife Fund. Archived from the original on 2011-10-03.
  3. ^ a b "Ecoregions of California" (PDF). USGS. 2016. USGS Open-File Report 2016-1021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "California Coastal Sage and Chaparral". One Earth. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Schoenherr, Allan A. (1992). A natural history of California. California natural history guides. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-06921-3.
  6. ^ "Southern California Oak Woodland and Savanna". NatureServe Explorer. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  7. ^ "California Orcutt grass (Orcuttia californica)". US Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  8. ^ Castellanos, A. V.; Mendoza, S. R. (1991). "Aspectos Socioeconómicos". In Ortega, A.; Arriaga, L. (eds.). La Reserva de la Biosfera "El Vizcaíno" en la Peninsula de Baja California. México (in Spanish). Vol. 4. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas de Baja California Sur. pp. 35–52.
  9. ^ "Wildfire in the Chaparral". California Chaparral Institute. Archived from the original on 2016-07-31. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  10. ^ "Mean Fire Return Interval". Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
  11. ^ Dinerstein, Eric; Olson, David; Joshi, Anup; Vynne, Carly; Burgess, Neil D.; Wikramanayake, Eric; Hahn, Nathan; Palminteri, Suzanne; Hedao, Prashant; Noss, Reed; Hansen, Matt; Locke, Harvey; Ellis, Erle C.; Jones, Benjamin; Barber, Charles Victor (2017-06-01). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014. ISSN 0006-3568. PMC 5451287. PMID 28608869.
  12. ^ "Conservación de islas | Prevenir extinciones y proteger a las especies y hábitat insulares". www.islas.org.mx. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
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