Introduction to California Chaparral

Ronald D. Quinn, Sterling C. Keeley, Marianne D. Wallace, "Introduction to California Chaparral"
English | 2006 | ISBN: 0520219732, 0520245660 | EPUB | pages: 344 | 16.1 mb
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.