Chaparral Plants/ Canyon Study Del Mar, CA Entry to Canyon study area facing towards the Northwest. Picture taken approximately 4:00 in the afternoon in.

Chaparral Plants/ Canyon Study

• Del Mar, CA• Entry to Canyon study

area facing towards the Northwest.

• Picture taken approximately 4:00 in the afternoon in May.

Chaparral habitat destruction?

• Development and urbanization of San Diego is destroying much of the native Chaparral areas

• This area is just North of the TPHS football stadium

Common Adaptations seen in Chaparral/Coastal Sage Plants

• Waxy cuticles to prevent water loss

• Seasonal growth and defoliation adaptive strategy often used

• Typically low growing (less than 3meters)

• Many can retain/store water in woody stems, root balls, or succulent tissue.

• Reduced leaf surface area to prevent water loss via evaporation

Things to think about during the Canyon Study

What abiotic factors dominate the canyon environment? What are the limiting factors in the Chaparral/Coastal Sage Scrub

community? What is the general climate of the canyon and how might it change

seasonally? What is the temperature distribution like in the canyon? Riparian area?

East facing slope? West facing slope? What direction do the winds generally blow from? What areas of the

canyon are protected from the wind? What type of adaptations do Chaparral and Coastal Sage Scrub plants

have that allow them to thrive in the canyon? Do certain type of plants dominate particular areas of the canyon?

What’s their population density like? What type of adaptations would help animals to survive and reproduce

in the canyon community? Are there any exotic introductions to the canyon area? What affect

might these exotic introductions have on the native flora and fauna? How has development affected the Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral

communities?

Common Coastal Sage & Chaparral Plants

Put down your cell phone, open your eyes, and take a look around you!

Coastal Sage Scrub & Chaparral Plants are found in only a few places in the WORLD!

Amazing Wow,plants are cool!

California Coastal Sage

Ceanothus

Baccaharis

• A native species common to this area.

Prickly Pear Cactus

• Optunia sp.• What types of

adaptations does it have for living in this area???

• Edible, tasty fruit eaten by Native American populations

Barrel Cactus

• Succulent• Waxy cuticle• Protective spines• Both sexual and

asexual reproduction

Black Sage

• Very distinctive smell

• Requires little water

• Adapted for sunny & arid climates

Laurel Sumac

Lemonade Berry Plant

Monkey Flower (Mimulus sp.)

Spice Bush

Flowering Chamise

Willow Tree

Exotic Introductions

• Most common landscaping plants are exotic to San Diego

• Exotic species often lack predators

• Some exotic plants may outcompete native species

• Some exotic plants may vigorously spread to new areas

Me???

Pampas Grass from South America (Argentina)

Eucalyptus trees are typically from Australia

Tamarisk over-utilizes ground water, and causes many natural watering holes to go dry, killing animals and out-competing native plant species.