Coastal Sage Sage and Chaparral Field Investigation TrickThe Chaparral biome is most common at latitudes 35 degrees north and is most often seen in the south of California. Chaparral plants have special adaptations that help them cope with the unique climate. Additionally there are community-specific characters of Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral that may aid in their identification. Both of these topics, secondary succession, endangered plant species, and the importance of habitat conservation will be discussed. The Chaparral and Coastal Sage Scrub have a variety of different plant species, from Torrey Pine to cacti. Each of them contains some useful adaptations that are the result of directional selection over many years. Many of the plants within the chaparral and coastal sage have small leaves. This is advantageous because the small surface area prevents excessive water loss. The stomata in turn are often closed during the day to maximize energy. The waxy coating also serves to stop water loss. Another adaptation is to have leaves with dark colored upper parts and lighter lower parts. Plants absorb red and blue light for photosynthesis and reflect green light, causing their green color. Because many chaparral leaves are green, more heat is deflected. The main goal of these adaptations is to conserve water throughout the day and stop any energy expenditure. All these adaptations are also attributed to the dry and fire-prone environment. Another interesting feature of chaparral plants is their ability to respond to fire and other natural disasters. Due to the dry and arid nature of the area, sagebrush and grasslands can easily cause brush fires. As the area is burned, shrubs and plant life are slowly destroyed, the effects would not only be seen locally but would be evident globally. Mitigation areas should be established to alleviate any damage already done and to prevent further damage. These areas can help support fragile plant and animal life. Biodiversity is essential to our lives and the worldview of responsible stewardship should be used in this issue. Bibliography Bauer, Harry L. “Statistical Analysis of Chaparral and Other Plant Communities Using Transect Samples.” Ecology 24.1 (1943): 45. JSTOR. Web."Biodiversity." Discovery. Network. May 24, 2014."California Chaparral and Woodlands." WWF. Network. May 22, 2014.California Coastal Sage and Chaparral. The Encyclopedia of the Earth. Network. May 22, 2014."Chaparral Ecology." McDaniel. Network. May 21, 2014. "Sampling with transects." Research methods. Great Lakes Worm Watch. Network. May 23 2014.