California coastal prairie

As a California coastal prairie is a form of grassland called, which can be found about Los Angeles, California, to southern Oregon along the Pacific coast. Wind, fire, salt spray and grazing prevent the growth of trees and shrubs to form this open grassland. If grazing is adjusted and / or fire inevitable verwaldet the terrain. The soil of the coastal prairie is nutrient-rich, dark Mollisol. Adjacent to the grassland is frequently Northern coastal scrub, a scrub type, which is also found in California and Oregon.

California coastal prairie is the most species-rich grassland type in North America and is also the most affected by obstruction type of landscape of the United States. Approximately 24 percent of this landscape type were overbuilt.

Typical species or genera of this plant community include the Süßgrasgattungen Danthonia and fescue ( Festuca ). In addition there are eagle ferns ( Pteridium ), the Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana ), Sisyrinchium bellum and Dichelostemma capitatum. The endangered Holocarpha macradenia found sporadically. Besides this kind are numerous other endangered species found mainly on areas grazed grassland and disappear without grazing of sheep or cattle. It is typical of the grasslands that it remains even in summer green and not dried up, so it is ideal for grazing.

Serious threat to the landscape type represent agriculture and development represents, but also by the people entrained invasive species, such as earthworms, slugs, earwigs and especially grasses destroy the habitat increasingly. Woolly honey grass ( Holcus lanatus ), pipe fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) and Phalaris aquatica among the most important entrained grasses that can be, however, decimated by targeted grazing in contrast to the robust native flora.

Typical occurrences of the California coastal prairie are Point Reyes National Seashore and the coastal strip of the Redwood National Park.

Swell

  • Santa Cruz Chapter, California Native Plant Society: Plant communities of Santa Cruz County ( English)
  • Habitat type
  • Geography (United States)
Mollisols Bracken
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