Mediterranean Chaparral/Temperate ShrubAP Environmental ScienceOConnorJonnae McCray

Vocabulary Chaparral: vegetation consisting

chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes

Shrub: a woody plant that is smaller than a tree

Where’s It At Though? Mediterranean

Coast of North Africa, South Europe and West Asia

Coordinates: 35°N 18°E

The Mediterranean Region

Climate Hot and Dry Summers (105°F) Cool and Moist Winters (50°F) Moderate amount of rain (15 to 40

inches of rain per year)

Climatogram

Plants Salvia Microphylla

Grows well in both dry heat and frost and snow.

Hardenbergia alba Able to withstand temperature extremes, lack

of water and wind. Aromatic Shrubs Sagebrush Acacia These plants also have little hairs on their leaves to

collect moisture from the air

Salvia Microphylla

Animals Many of the Animals are small and

nocturnal Not many large animals simply because

of the heat Golden Jackal

In the winter, the Jackal grows a thick coat of hair

Helps the environment by keeping the rodent, gazelle, bird and frog population down.

Animals cont. Bezoar Goat

A special adaption of a goat is it’s wool, which helps it survive in the harsh mountain climate. Also, it’s horns helps it defend itself and fight for females.

Armadillo Withstand warm weather

Beaver

Invasive Species Spanish Broom

Spread rapidly and produces seeds that are transported by any type of erosion or rain wash

Quickly colonizes disturbed habitats and develops thick shrub communities that prevent colonization

Plant grows to human head height and form a tangle containing a large amount of dead wood Considered a fire hazard

Human Impact Due to dry climate, Chaparral areas are

at high risk for wildfires often occur due to human error or natural causes. Climate change because of greenhouse

gases released into the atmosphere during fossil fuel use. The gases explain roughly half of the increased dryness.

Sources Kevin S. (2001). Mediterranean Chaparral. Retrieved

from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chaparral.htm (Oct.5.2014)

Woodward, Susan (2012) Mediterranean Scrub. Retrieved from http://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=98 (Oct.5.2014)

Julius L. (2001). Mediterranean Chaparral Animals. Retrieved from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_chap_animal_page.htm (Oct.1.2014)