Chaparral, Central California Coast, #1l
Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Mountains
December 1973
The image presents a typical appearance of the chaparral of the central coast. Note the olive green color (not the deep green of tropical species competing for light and yet not as reflective as typical greyish desert or steppe species). Also note that the biomass is greater than in the images presented for steppe environments. Unlike the steppe, chaparral typically forms a closed canopy: the outside leaves of one individual overlap with those of adjacent individuals; whereas steppe is typically comprised of individuals more widely spaced, mixed with grass species found between shrubs. Chaparral is often referred to as a "forest," specifically "the broad-sclerophyll forest." This refers to the fact that shrubs have broad leaves, yet they are reduced in size and typically covered with a hard, waxy surface or coating. These are adaptations to drought. They function to help reduce evapotranspiration during the dry season.

The species composition of chaparral varies from site to site, depending on local climate, burn history, and other biogeographic factors. The chaparral here is dominated by several species of ceonothus, manzanita, coastal sage, coastal live oak, and toyon.

The area seen in this image is just off of Hwy 154 on the coastal side of San Marcos Pass. It was burned in the 1955 Refugio Canyon Fire which burned 75,000 acres. This image shows the condition of the chaparral after 18 years of regrowth. This spot burned again, after this image was taken in the Painted Cave fire of 1990.
Photography by
Dr. Sharon Johnson
drsharonjohnson@comcast.net
Imagery & site design by
Kat G. Kalamaras