Download name of biome - Operation Conservation

The Scrublands
Wild, Mild, and Beautiful
Mrs. Carter
Where in the world are the
Scrublands?
Scrublands occupy
less than 5% of
earth’s total land
mass
Mostly between 30°
and 40° latitude
North and South of
the Equator
Scrubland Aliases
Maquis in Europe
Matorral in Chile
Mallee in Australia
Fynbos in South Africa
Chaparral in the Southwestern United States
Terrain of the Scrublands
Extremely varied even
on one continent
Coastal plains
Furrowed valleys
Rolling hills
Rocky mountains
Climate of the Scrublands
Often called a
Mediterranean Climate
Mild, wet winters
Average winter temp
50°F
15-25 inches of rain
during winter months
Climate of the Scrublands
Hot, dry summers
Average temperature
64°F, but may reach
100°F
Very little rain
Drought and fire
common
Threats to the Scrublands
Development threatens
remaining wild areas
Fire most dangerous
natural threat – but also
required for biome
health
California Chaparral
wildfires made worse by
Santa Ana winds
Threats to the Scrublands
Invasive plant
species primary
carrier of wildfire
Frequent fires
increase non-native
plant species
Red Brome & Cheatgrass
Invasive
Plant Species
Threats to the Scrublands
Scrublands -- fire
adapted biome
Native flora –
regenerates when
fire frequency is
>15 years
Threats to the Scrublands
Fire destroys ground cover
Mudslides – secondary natural threat
Scrubland Plants
Shrubs most common plant form
Small leaves, waxy coating retain water
Deep tap roots, shallow root system
maximize water retention
Chaparral Yucca
Native to the New World
Can only be pollinated by
the Yucca moth
Takes 6 to 7 years for plant
to produce blooms, then it
dies
Flowers bloom in spring -can be 12 feet tall
Manzanita
Native perennial shrub of
Sierra Chaparral
Seeds will not germinate
unless burned
Fire suppression = no new
growth Manzanita
Used to treat mild urinary
tract infections and kidney
inflammations
Saltmarsh Bird’s Beak
Annual plant – lives for only
one year
Semi-parasitic – uses
pickleweed and salt grass to
extend growing season
Grows only in saltmarshes
of the San Diego County
California Chaparral
Endangered species
King Protea
Native to South Africa
National flower of South
Africa
Flower can measure 1 foot
across
Takes in moisture through
its leaves
Endangered – few grow
wild – most cultivated
Olive Tree
Oldest known cultivated tree
Some trees live for a thousand
years
Requires hot dry summers and
slightly chilly winters to
produce fruit
Small leaves with protective
coating reduces transpiration
Scrubland Animals
Adapt habits to avoid heat of summer days
Possess physical adaptations for cooling and
protection from extreme heat and dryness
Dietary habits maximize water retention
Threatened by loss of habitat
Cape Grysbok
Endemic to South African
fynbos
Related to the antelope
Only 25 pounds and 21
inches tall
Nocturnal
Can go for long periods
without water
Iberian Lynx
Native to Spain’s
Mediterranean Maquis
Endangered -- fewer than
1,000 left in the world
Only 250 mature animals
capable of breeding exist
Decline due to loss of
habitat and prey
San Joachim Kit Fox
Native to San Joachim Valley
Nocturnal
Prey includes ground squirrels,
gophers, birds, rabbits, insects
Predators include coyotes, red
foxes and man
Large ears help animal keep
cool
Threatened
Black Tailed Jackrabbit
Misnamed – really a hare
Large ears help regulate body
heat
Soles of feet covered in fur –
protection against scorching
Eat food, excrete it, then eat
their excrement to retain as
much moisture as possible
through food
Cactus Wren
Largest wren in the United
States
Breed in successional
Chaparral scrub (scrub
regenerating after fire)
Do not migrate
Very territorial
Insects – main food source
Save the Scrublands
Scrubland only
occupies 5% of the
earth’s total land mass
Scrubland supports
20% of the earth’s
plants species
Small isolated areas
on five continents
Each area is unique
The Australian Mallee
Save the Scrublands
The Fynbos -- home to
6,000 plants that can’t
be found anywhere
else in the world
Over 1,000 species are
endangered
The South African Fynbos
Save the Scrublands
Urban sprawl,
agriculture, extensive
grazing -- major
threats
1,500 endemic plant
species
15 endemic bird
species
The Chilean Matorral
Save the Scrublands
Scrublands around the
world – rapidly
disappearing due to
development
Scrubland biome – in
danger of being lost
forever
The Mediteranean
Maquis
Works Cited
Armstrong, W. P. The Yucca and Its Moth. 2000. Date Retreived 20 Feb. 2007
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0902a.htm
California Chaparral and Woodlands. 2001. World Wildlife Fund. Date Retrieved 20 Feb 2007.
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/g200/g121.html
Chaparral. 2000. Date Retrieved 20 Feb. 2007. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/chaparral.htm
Chaparral. Date Retrieved 20 Feb. 2007.
http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/biomes/chaparral.htm
Chaparral and Fire. 2006. California Native Plant Society. 20 Feb. 2007.
http://www.cnps.org/programs/education/chaparral.htm
Chillean Matorral. 2001. World Wildlife Fund. Date Retrieved 20 Feb. 2007.
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/g200/g122.html
Desert Scrub. 2003. Explore Biodiversity and The Wild Classroom. Date Retrieved 20 Feb. 2007.
http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/biomes/desertscrub.html
Mediterranean Scrublands. 1996. Date Retrieved 20 Feb. 2007.
http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/medit/medit.html