Biology Lab #12: Chaparral Biome and Species of Irvine Park

Flashcards covering the ecological concepts, adaptations, and specific plant species found in the chaparral biome and Irvine Park.

Biomes

Geographic areas defined primarily by temperature and precipitation, where similar types of plants and animals are found in areas with similar climates.

Chaparral Biome

A coastal southern California habitat characterized by cold ocean currents, mild, wet winters, and hot, dry summers.

Irvine Park

A $475$-acre park established in $1897$ located on the northwest foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, featuring example areas of the chaparral biome.

Summer Leaf Shedding

An adaptation where plants minimize water loss in hot, dry conditions by losing the large surface area of their leaves.

Fire-dependent Germination

An adaptation where certain plant seeds will only germinate after hot fires occur, a process necessary for maintaining biodiversity.

Santiago Creek

A creek in Irvine Park that only carries water during and after rains, influencing the distribution of nearby trees.

South-facing Slopes

In the northern hemisphere outside the tropics, these slopes receive more direct sunlight and are warmer and drier than north-facing slopes, often featuring more cacti.

Native (Indigenous) Species

Species that have lived and evolved in a particular location for long periods of time.

Non-native (Exotic/Invasive) Species

Species that arrived to an area recently, which may out-compete native species because they have left their natural enemies behind.

California sycamore (Platanus racemosa)

A tall tree ($30$ to $90$ feet) identified by broad palmate leaves and peeling bark that leaves a mottled patchwork of colors.

Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)

An evergreen, monoecious tree ($10$ to $25\,m$ tall) with toothed, cupped leaves and an obligate association with mycorrhizal fungi.

Mycorrhizal Fungi

Soil fungi that have an obligate association with Coast live oak roots to provide the tree with moisture and nutrients.

Mistletoe

A parasitic evergreen shrub that photosynthesizes but extracts water and minerals from a host plant using a modified root.

Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)

A woody shrub or climbing vine with leaves usually divided into three lobes that are lost in winter (winter deciduous).

Urushiol

An oil found on all parts of the Poison Oak plant that causes an allergic reaction in $70\%$ to $85\%$ of people.

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

An evergreen shrub with gray bark, oval leaves with spines along the margins, and clusters of small white flowers that produce red or yellow fruit.

Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina)

A frost-sensitive evergreen shrub with reddish leaf veins and petioles that dies when temperatures drop below $26^{\circ}F$.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)

A $30$ to $40\,cm$ tall perennial herb with a square stem and circular, wrinkled leaves used for medicinal teas.

Coastal Sagebrush (Artemisia californica)

A rounded shrub belonging to the sunflower family with threadlike, thin leaves and a strong smell.

White sage (Salvia apiana)

A perennial shrub in the mint family with leaves covered in a whitish powder; its seeds were used by Native Americans as shampoo.

Black sage (Salvia mellifera)

An evergreen mint family shrub with a square stem and opposite leaves where pairs alternate at $90^{\circ}$.

Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)

A rounded shrub up to $2\,m$ tall with leathery leaves that are woolly on the undersides.

Blue Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

A deciduous shrub with opposite compound leaves; it produces edible purple/black berries or poisonous red berries.

Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)

An evergreen shrub with leathery, toothed leaves and sticky, hairy reddish fruit used to make a beverage.

Wild Cucumber (Marah macrocarpus)

Also known as manroot, this vine has a perennial root that can weigh over $100\,kg$ and produces green prickly fruit.

Iceplant

A non-native succulent from Africa with long, thin, triangular leaves introduced to control soil erosion.

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia littoralis)

A succulent perennial shrub with modified leaves (spines) for defense and flattened, oval stem segments.

Dodder (Cuscuta californica)

Also known as Witches Hair, this parasitic vine looks like yellow hair and extracts water and nutrients from host plants.