Created By:  Steve Williams

California Chaparral

Abiotic Factors / Climate

California chaparral tends to have a mild winter, with a hot and dry summer.  Average annual temperatures range from 50 to 65o F.  The Average annual precipitation ranges from 14 to 30 in. per year, which makes it somewhat dry.  Fires are common in the fall due to the hot dry summers.  Many of the plant species have seeds that require fires for germination to occur.

Figure 1: An example of California Chaparral.

Climate Summary:

v Temperature
     
Ø Average annual:  50 to 65oF
Ø Winter: Cool
Ø Summers: Hot sometimes exceeding 110oF
Precipitation
Ø 14 to 30in. per year
Ø Dry summers
v Other
     
Ø Poor rocky soil
     
Ø Fire danger in high in fall

California Chaparral | Biotic Factors
In The California Chaparral | Food Web and Tropic Levels | The American Peregrine Falcon: An Endangered Species | What would happen if we killed all the rattlesnakes in the California Chaparral? | References: