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Camp Internet's Global Gardening Studies are open to all Camp Expedition Teams. RAIN's Youth Technology Corps members are Expedition Team Leaders for Communities taking part.
Chaparral Biome
The chaparral biome is found in a
little bit of most of the continents - the west coast of the United
States, the west coast of South America, the Cape Town area of
South Africa, the western tip of Australia and the coastal areas
of the Mediterranean.
Lay of the land: The chaparral biome has many different types
of terrain. Some examples are flat plains, rocky hills and mountain
slopes. It is sometimes used in movies for the "Wild West".
Chaparral is characterized as being very hot and dry. As for the
temperature, the winter is very mild and is usually about 10 ƒC.
Then there is the summer. It is so hot and dry at 40 ƒC that fires
and droughts are very common. 
Fortunately, the plants and animals are adapted to these conditions.
Most of the plants have large, hard leaves which hold moisture.
Some of these plants are poison oak, scrub oak, Yucca Wiple and
other shrubs, trees and cacti.
The animals are all mainly grassland and desert types adapted
to hot, dry weather. A few examples: coyotes, jack rabbits, mule
deer, alligator lizards, horned toads, praying mantis, honey bee
and ladybugs.
So, if you ever go somewhere that is like chaparral, make sure
to bring some sunscreen and lots of water!
General Information on Mediterranean and Californian Biomes
Mediterranean climate regions often have dense thickets of shrubs
and trees associated with them. In California this vegetation
is commonly called chaparral. Because these climate regions have
most of their precipitation in the winter, with a desert-like
summer climate, many of the plants have some of the same strategies
as xerophytic plants. One of the most notable features which helps
to conserve moisture are the thick, leathery leaves.
Thunderstorms
and lightning are common at the end of summer and in early fall.
Fires are prevalent in chaparral because of the lightning and
dry conditions.
Many plants have adapted to the fires. Some plants have seeds
which are not released until after a fire.
Others are full of volatile oils which cause the plant to burn
quickly through a region. Some plants resprout from the roots
after a fire.
In California the Mediterranean biome begins outside of the steppe
or grassland region of the Central Valley.
Chaparral and Oak woodlands intermingle in a ring around the valley.
At the higher elevations, where it is typically wetter, a Mixed
Evergreen plant community is found with several kinds of oaks
and conifers along with the shrubs.
The chaparral biome is found in a
little bit of most of the continents - the west coast of the United
States, the west coast of South America, the Cape Town area of
South Africa, the western tip of Australia and the coastal areas
of the Mediterranean.
Lay of the land: The chaparral biome has many different types
of terrain. Some examples are flat plains, rocky hills and mountain
slopes. It is sometimes used in movies for the "Wild West".
Chaparral is characterized as being very hot and dry. As for the
temperature, the winter is very mild and is usually about 10 ƒC.
Then there is the summer. It is so hot and dry at 40 ƒC that fires
and droughts are very common.
Fortunately, the plants and animals are adapted to these conditions.
Most of the plants have large, hard leaves which hold moisture.
Some of these plants are poison oak, scrub oak, Yucca Wiple and
other shrubs, trees and cacti.
The animals are all mainly grassland and desert types adapted
to hot, dry weather. A few examples: coyotes, jack rabbits, mule
deer, alligator lizards, horned toads, praying mantis, honey bee
and ladybugs.
So, if you ever go somewhere that is like chaparral, make sure
to bring some sunscreen and lots of water!
General Information on Mediterranean and Californian Biomes
Mediterranean climate regions often have dense thickets of shrubs
and trees associated with them. In California this vegetation
is commonly called chaparral. Because these climate regions have
most of their precipitation in the winter, with a desert-like
summer climate, many of the plants have some of the same strategies
as xerophytic plants. One of the most notable features which helps
to conserve moisture are the thick, leathery leaves.
Thunderstorms
and lightning are common at the end of summer and in early fall.
Fires are prevalent in chaparral because of the lightning and
dry conditions.
Many plants have adapted to the fires. Some plants have seeds
which are not released until after a fire.
Others are full of volatile oils which cause the plant to burn
quickly through a region. Some plants resprout from the roots
after a fire.
In California the Mediterranean biome begins outside of the steppe
or grassland region of the Central Valley.
Chaparral and Oak woodlands intermingle in a ring around the valley.
At the higher elevations, where it is typically wetter, a Mixed
Evergreen plant community is found with several kinds of oaks
and conifers along with the shrubs.