Ecosystem 1.: Arid
This ecosystem covers about a third of the land in Southern California. The Lord has created wildlife here specially equipped to compete with the blistering sun, relentless heat, and little precipitation. There are also different sub-climatic zones within this category,. For example: High-elevation desert, Low-elevation desert, and some would include semi arid, but I put it in Mediterranean or chaparral.
-High Elevation Desert: Deserts included: Mojave.
Annual Rainfall: 5-8" (More at higher elevations)Elevation: 3000-5800'
Plants: Joshua Trees, Mojave Yucca, Scrub Oak, Oak, Western Juniper, California Juniper, Utah Juniper, Ironwood Tree, Smoke tree, Single leaf Pinyon, and White Fir and Great Basin Bristlecone pine (Above 7000').
Nearest Big Cities: Yucca Valley, Lucerne Valley, Joshua Tree, Morongo Valley, 29 Palms, Joshua Tree National Park, Baldwin Lake (also considered mountainous)
-Low Elevation Desert:
Deserts included: Sonoran (Colorado), Mojave.
Annual Rainfall: 2-6"
Elevation: -232(Salton Sea)-2,999'
Nearest Big cities: Palm Springs, Coachella Valley, Victorville, Palmdale, Imperial, Blythe, Joshua Tree National Park, Salton Sea State Park
Both Deserts:
Major Water Sources: Colorado River, Mojave River, Whitewater River, San Gorgonio River, Pinto Basin Wash, Numerous Oases and springs, Snow Creek,Salton Sea, many dry lakes(playas) very little water available, because water in rivers only flow in spring/winter.
Sonoran and Colorado, Lower Mojave:95-115 F in the during the summer,70-85 F in the winter. Avg. Day temp: 88 F
Higher Mojave: 85-105F in summer, 50-80F,(down to below freezing and snow) in the winter Avg. Day Temp: 80 F
Animals: Coyote, Cougar, Nelson Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Tortoise, Rattlesnakes, Scorpions, Desert Toads, Tarantulas, Red-tailed hawks, Owls, Cactus Warren other small birds,mammals and bugs.
2. Mediterranean
This ecosystem covers most of Southern California. Chaparral is the most extensive type of flora in the region. Coastal Sage Scrub and Semi Ardi Climates form were the land transforms into a desert environment. God created life here to deal with cool and rainy winters, and hot and dry summers. Many seasonal creeks cross the land, were riparian forests form about. Oak Woodlands and Savannas typically grow on moist north-facing slopes, were the sun is less harsh. Oak Woodlands resemble a forest environment, but are typically less dense lacking under-story brush.
-Coastal Sage Scrub
Average Rainfall:10-14"
Elevation: Sea level to 1500'
Plants: Coast Live Oaks, Canyon Live Oaks, Southern California Black Walnut,Peruvian Pepper tree Chamise, Manzanita,Cheatgrass, Beaver tail cactus, California Sage, many small shrubs.
Nearest Large Cities: Coasta Mesa, Orange County flatslands, Laguna Hills, Los Angles Basin, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, San Diego County Flatlands.
Weather: Summer, 70-90F+, winter 60-65 F Avg. Daytime: 75F lows down to 40F in the winter.
-Chaparral:
Average Rainfall: 10-25"
Elevation: 1,000-5,500'
Plants: Coast Live Oaks, Canyon Live Oaks, Englmann Oaks, Interior Live Oaks, Our Lord's Candle Yucca, Southern California Black Walnut, Chamise, Manzanita, Sage Brush, Big-Cone Douglas-Fir, Coulter Pine, Techate Cypress, cheatgrass, Chaparral Cherry, Sugar Sumac MANY small brush and shrubs!Places Near By: Front Country of the Traverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Coast Ranges, Pasadena, Rancho Cucamunga, San Dimas, San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Glendale, Burbank, Chino Hills
Weather: Summer:80-100F, winter: 50-70F Avg Daytime: 76F lows below 32F in winter
snow above 3000' in winter
-Oak woodlands:
Avg. Rainfall:12-25"
Elevation: 500-5,500'
Plants: Coast Live Oak, Canyon Live Oak, Interior Live Oak, Oracle Oak, Englemann Oak, California Black Oak(above 5000', Valley Oak, Scrub Oak, California Black Walnut, Peruvian Pepper Tree. and above 3000',Big-cone Douglas Fir, Coulter Pine, Knobcone Pine, Ponderosa Pine. Places nearby:Chino Hills, Transverse, Peninsular Ranges, Coast Ranges, Cleremont,Santiago Canyon, Topanga Canyon, La Canada Flintride, Santa Barbara, etc.
Weather: Summer:80-95F, winter: 50-70F Avg Daytime: 75F in winter: down to 32F
Nota Buena:
snow above 3000' in winter Normally grows on moister and less hot areas than Chaparral and other sub climates.
-Semi Arid
Avg Rainfall: 8-20"
Elevation: Sea Level-3000'
Plants: Small shrubs and Brush, manzanita, chamise,cheatgrass,Peruvian Pepper Tree, A few oaks, cactus, sage brush
Near by Places: Inland Empire, San Bernardino, Riverside, Yucipa and Cherry Valleys, Cajon, San Diego County inland, parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties Weather: Summer:75-100F Winter:65-80F Avg Daytime: 80Flows in winter down to 28F
Snow can occur above in winter above 2000' every few years
-Riparian
Rain Fall: 10-25"
Elevation: Sea level +Plants: California Bay, California Fan Palm, Southern California Black Walnut, California Oaks, California Maple, White Elder, Big-leaf Maple, Willows, other riparian vines/plants
Weather: Varies from highs of 75F in the summer at the coast to highs of 45F in the winter near mountains.
Major Water Sources: Santa Ana River, San Gabriel River,Lytle Creek Cajon Creek, San Jacinto River, San Gorgonio River, San Luis Rey River,Santa Margarita River, Santa Clara River, Ventura River,San Diego River, Topanga Creek, Santiago Creek, Arroyo Seco River, San Jose Creek, Coyote Creek, Chino Creek, Carbon Canyon Creek,Fullerton Creek, San Juan Creek, Santa Anita Creek, San Antonio Creek, Barbara's Lake , Lake Elsinore,Zaca Lake
Animals: Coyotes,Mountain Lions, Bobcats,Raccons, opossums, skunks, rattlesnakes,King Snakes, Many snakes, tarantulas, rabbits, hawks, see more on our other pages.
3. Mountainous
Southern California's Mountains cover a large part of the region. The highest are the San Bernardino, San Jacinto, and San Gabriel Mountain ranging from 1500-11,512'. There are many different forms of ecology as the elevation progresses.
-Lower Elevation Forest/Montae Chaparral
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Elevation: 3000-5000'
Plants: Big-cone Douglas Fir, Coulter Pine, Knobcone Pine, Ponderosa Pine, California Oaks, Our Lord's Candle Yucca, chamise, manzanita, sage and brush, maples, elders, etc.
Weather: Summer:80F, winter: 40-50F Ang Daytime: 70F lows into the teens in winter
-High Elevation-Desert Side Forests
Avg. Rainfall:15-30" >6'of snow a year.
Elevation: 4500-7000'
Plants: Junipers, Pinyons, Joshua Trees, Mojave Yucca, cactus, oaks, scrub oak, cactus, pines
Weather: Summer,80-100F Winter: 35-50F Avg Daytime: 74F lows into teens in winter
-Mixed Conifer Forest
Avg Rainfall: Up to 35" OF RAIN 4-12' of snow depending on elevation
Elevation: 5000-8,700'
Weather: Summer, up to 65-80F, Winter:30-50F Lows in winter:down to single digits
-Sub-alpine
Avg. Rainfall: 10+ of snow
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| A Sub alpine Lake at 9,000' |
Plants: Lodgepole Pine, Limber Pine, Jeffery Pine,California Juniper, Western Juniper, manzanita, chiquaquin, meadow grasses, small prevailing shrubs
Weather: Summer, 60-70F, winter, 20-40F, Lows in winter: down to single digits Avg. Day Temp: 50F
-Alpine Tundra
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| Well, on the summit... |
Elevation: 10,800-11,502' (Mt. San Gorgonio and San Jacinto)
Plants: No plant life except,Manzanita, Chiquaquin, Alpine Flowers and Grasses. VERY LITTLE PLANTS GROWTH DUE TO UP TO 100 MILE WINDS AND FREEZING TEMPS LIKE THE ARCTIC
Weather: Summer:40-55F, Winter 15-40F lows in winter down to negatives, usually single digits and teens Winds up to 70 MPH! Avg. Day Temp: 40F wind chill down to -15F
All Mountain Areas:
Major Water Sources:Santa And River, Santa Ana River South Fork, San Gorgonio River, Whitewater River and all its forks, San Jacinto River and forks, Bear Creek, Holcomb Creek, Mojave River and all its forks, Deep Creek,Mill Creek, Fish Creek, Lytle Creek and all forks, Cajon Creek, San Antonio Creek, Icehouse Creek, San Gabriel River and all forks, Iron Fork, Fish Fork, Santa Anita River, Arroyo Seco River, Santa Clara River, Venture River, San Luis Rey River, Santa Margarita River, Arrowhead Springs, Many other Springs,Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead,Baldwin Lake, Dry Lake, Dollar Lake, Lake Hemet, Sutherland Lake
Nearest Cities: Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Lake, Baldwin Lake, Lake Arrowhead,Running Springs, Crestline, Angelus Oaks, Forest Falls, Sugarloaf, Oak Glen, Idywilld, Pine Cove, Julian, Laguna Mountain, San Diego County Mountain cities, Frazier Park, Mt. Baldy, Wrightwood, Big Pines, Falling Springs, Mt. Wilson
Animals: Same as other places, but chipmunks, wild trout, yellow legged frog mountain lion, black bear, see more on animals section.
This Completes the Ecological Zones ofSouthern California
