What is a Biome?

A major regional or global biotic community, such as a grassland or desert, characterized chiefly by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate.

What is the Chaparral?

A Chaparral, specifically the California Chaparral is a woodlands and grasslands area on the coast of California and is found at latitude 35-40° North, and longitude is 118-123° West. However, the Chaparral is located in other parts of the world (see map below).

Climate of the California Chaparral

Climate in the California Chaparral is characterized by hot, dry, and mild summers with rainy and cool winters.

Soil in the Chaparral

Soil in the California Chaparral is very poor, lacking many vital nutrients. This is largely due to the impact of humans in tearing down forests and overgrazing which leaves the soil in poor conditions and eroded. Poor soil conditions as well as the drought and fire proneness of the region serve as limiting factors for the biome. Chaparral plants, however, are well adapted to this almost desert-like soil and the climate of the Chaparral. Many are fire and drought resistant, can withstand the varying temperatures. Some plants are dwarfed as a method of dealing with these soil and climate conditions.