Homework #4: Habitat Trips
Earlier today, I visited and compared two ecosystems types: an estuary ecosystem and a chaparral ecosystem. The two are located within 40 minutes driving distance of each other in Long Beach, California. At the estuary ecosystem, I walked along marshes, sandy area, and immediately next to the ocean. There are a few very tall palms growing in the ecosystem, but very few other tall trees. I suspect that this is because of the high wind exposure here as well as the lack of nutrient-rich soil. Most of the other plants I noticed were succulents - they has dense leaves and stems that could hold a lot of water, and grew with bright flowers low to the ground. It seems that they are seeking protection from the climate and a way to stay up without roots that can reach too far down. The few other trees (besides the palms) were growing sideways, at almost horizontal angles, with dense coverings of leaves and a lot of cone-like structures. These two features are likely due to the difficult growing environment - the dense shrubbery offers some protection for cones and young seedlings, and the high production quantity creates a higher likelihood that at least one individual will survive.
In the chaparral ecosystem, I noticed a hugely more diverse and abundant array of plants and animals. Insects were easier to find and had created homes very close to the open path and open elements, as had plants - most species seemed significantly less concerned about protection from climate. Nonetheless, many plants had narrow leaves, perhaps to save water or prevent excess sun exposure. There was an abundance of flowers, likely corresponding to the large number of insect pollinators that I also saw. The wind was less harsh here, allowing plants to grow more directly up and allowing for canopy-like layers to form in some areas. There is also what seems to be good soil here, and many plants have apparently set fairly deep roots in it, as they grow much taller than on the estuary.
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