Lab Practical 3: Southern California Terrestrial Ecosystems

Coastal Strand Location/Conditions

sandy areas by the sea

What do plants need to adapt to in the Coastal Strand ecosystem?

plants must adapt to high levels of salt in their environment as well as a lot of sun exposure

Coastal Salt Marsh Location/Conditions

low-lying areas near the ocean, where fresh water meets the ocean; water levels fluctuate greatly with tides

What do plants need to adapt to in the Coastal Salt Marsh ecosystem?

plants here must adapt to varying levels of water (possibly being periodically submerged) as well as to the presence of salt

Oak Savannah Location/Conditions

composed of grasses interspersed with occasional valley oaks; usually low precipitation and often poor soil; wildfires are relatively frequent

Riparian Woodland Location/Conditions

found in a narrow band immediately adjacent to freshwater source; ample access to water, but not enough sun exposure

What do plants need to adapt to in the Riparian Woodland ecosystem?

plants may have relatively large leaves so that they can absorb what sunlight does filter through them; leaves may be flexible or compound so they can catch sunlight from many directions

Southern Live Oak Woodland Location/Conditions

found in canyons; surrounded by hills and receive more moisture because rainwater runs down the hillsides and collects at the bottom

What do plants need to adapt to in the Southern Live Oak Woodland ecosystem?

plants must adapt to the limited sunlight because they are shaded by larger trees

Coastal Sage Scrub Location/Conditions

found on hillsides at lower elevations and near the ocean; plants get moisture from periodic rain and coastal fogs

What do plants need to adapt to in the Coastal Sage Scrub ecosystem?

plants have adaptations to prevent excessive evaporation and sun exposure

Chaparral Location/Conditions

found on inland and higher elevation hillsides and ridges throughout SoCal

What do plants need to adapt to in the Chaparral ecosystem?

adapt to hot, dry summers, mild, wetter winters, and frequent fire; adapt to reduce evaporation and limit sun exposure; leaves

Leaves of plants in Chaparral ecosystem

May be

- reduced in size

- thick, tough, waxy

- pubescent, wavy folded (to reduce evaporation by wind)

- attach nearly vertically to the stem (to reduce exposure to heat)

- light in color (to reflect more solar radiation)