Ecology of Insects in California Chaparral

Ecology of Insects in California Chaparral PDF

Author: Don C. Force

Publisher:

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 12

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Studies stimulated by the International Biological Program showed total insect faunal biomass and diversity to be greatest in the spring of the year, which matches increased plant growth and flowering at this time. Ground-inhabiting beetle studies indicated the family Tenebrionidae to be overwhelmingly dominant in biomass, but the family Staphylinidae to be richest in species numbers. Ant studies showed the chaparral community to be rich in ant species; seed gatherers were particularly important. Flower-visiting insects are more abundant and more species-rich in chaparral than in any other type of California vegetation. Bees especially are abundant and diversified and are responsible for most pollination. Postfire succession studies of insects indicate that the abundance of predators and flower visitors sharply increases following fire; parasitic and phytophagous insects (other than flower-visitors) increase more slowly. Insect herbivory appears to affect succession minimally.

Introduction to California Chaparral

Introduction to California Chaparral PDF

Author: Ronald D. Quinn

Publisher: Univ of California Press

Published: 2006-09-20

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 052093900X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The characteristic look of California Chaparral—a soft bluish-green blanket of vegetation gently covering the hills—is known to millions who have seen it as the backdrop in movies and television productions. This complex ecological community of plants and animals is not just a feature of the hills around Hollywood, but is a quintessential part of the entire California landscape. It is a highly resilient community adapted to life with recurring fires and droughts. Written for a wide audience, this concise, engaging, and beautifully illustrated book describes an ancient and exquisitely balanced environment home to wondrous organisms: Fire Beetles that mate only on burning branches, lizards that shoot blood from their eyes when threatened, Kangaroo Rats that never drink water, and seeds that germinate only after a fire, even if that means waiting in the soil for a 100 years or more. Useful both as a field guide and an introductory overview of the ecology of chaparral, it also provides a better understanding of how we might live in harmony, safety, and appreciation of this unique ecological community. * Identifies chaparral’s common plants, animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects * Features 79 color illustrations, 56 black-and-white photographs, and 3 maps * Examines the role of humans and fire in chaparral, covering the placement and design of homes, landscaping, and public policy

Valuing Chaparral

Valuing Chaparral PDF

Author: Emma C. Underwood

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-04-09

Total Pages: 467

ISBN-13: 3319683039

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Chaparral shrubland ecosystems are an iconic feature of the California landscape, and a highly biodiverse yet highly flammable backdrop to some of the fastest growing urban areas in the United States. Chaparral-type ecosystems are a common element of all of the world’s Mediterranean-type climate regions – of which California is one – yet there is little public appreciation of the intrinsic value and the ecosystem services that these landscapes provide. Valuing Chaparral is a compendium of contributions from experts in chaparral ecology and management, with a focus on the human relationship with chaparral ecosystems. Chapters cover a wide variety of subjects, ranging from biodiversity to ecosystem services like water provision, erosion control, carbon sequestration and recreation; from the history of human interactions with chaparral to current education and conservation efforts; and from chaparral restoration and management to scenarios of the future under changing climate, land use, and human population. Valuing Chaparral will be of interest to resource managers, the research community, policy makers, and the public who live and work in the chaparral dominated landscapes of California and other Mediterranean-type climate regions.

The Broad-Sclerophyll Vegetation of California

The Broad-Sclerophyll Vegetation of California PDF

Author: William S. Cooper

Publisher: Forgotten Books

Published: 2017-11-15

Total Pages: 164

ISBN-13: 9780331113464

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Excerpt from The Broad-Sclerophyll Vegetation of California: An Ecological Study of the Chaparral and Its Related Communities The characteristic vegetation of California west of the high Sierra Nevada and the Colorado and Mojave Deserts is of the type aptly described by the term broad-sclerophyll. The use of the prefix broad, which expresses a very general group character, in distinction to the needle-leaf of the narrow-sclerophyll conifers, is not without its disadvantages, since the most important chaparral species, Adenostoma fasciculatum, possesses a needle-like leaf. This single though important exception seems not to be sufficient cause for discarding the very expressive appellation. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Lanterna Rally - Theme by Grace Themes