By Danie Cojocaru, Cara Carlucci, Nevin Varghese, Victor Veras

CALIFORNIA FLORISTIC PROVINCE

ABOUT THE HOT SPOT

Location: California, west of the deserts and small areas in Oregon, Nevada, and Mexico.

Climate: Mediterranean-type climate- hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters

Ratio: 121:2

(human population to number of extinct species)

Additional information:

four coastal mountain ranges

CALIFORNIA FLORISTIC PROVINCE IS A HOT SPOT BECAUSE….

oDeclining Numbers –o Endemic Kangaroo rat, endemic Desert

Slender Salamander, California Condoro Condor- little more than 100o Kangaroo rat and Slender Salamander- both

endangered in California

oGreat Biodiversity because it has organisms such as the Grey Wolf, Elk, Jaguar and Grizzly bear which can be found in other places locations around the world

oOnly location where California Condor, 50+ amphibians, the giant Sequoia and other organisms can be found

UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY

• Vertebrates• Birds- 340 species

• 8 endemic species• Ex: California Condor

• Mammals- 157 species• 18 endemic species• Ex: Grey wolf

• Reptiles- 69 species• 4 endemic species• Ex: Western Ring neck Snake

• Invertebrates• Insects- 28,000 species

• 9,000 endemic species

• Plants- 3,488 species• 2,124 endemic species• 3,500 vascular• Ex: Giant Sequoia

Coastal Redwood

HUMAN IMPACTS

Population Pressures - Human impact drives all the other threats to these hotspots. - Estimated at 35 million people in 2002.

Loss of Habitat - Deforestation, unsustainable farming and hunting, pollution, and development.- Fastest growing state in the US.

Unsustainable Resource Use – Too much fossil fuel use, less and less freshwater water sources

Introduced Non-native Species - Invasive species beat or become prey on native species.

CONSERVATION ACTIONS

37 percent of the total land area of the California Floristic Province is under official protection

In the California Floristic Province, there are almost 50 wilderness areas, 16 national wildlife refuges and 107 state parks.

The hotspot includes two of the oldest national parks established in the US: Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park

In the last several decades, California has spent more money on conservation and set aside more habitat for protection than any other state in the US.

(Sequoia National Park)

CALIFORNIA FLORISTIC PROVINCE - CONCLUSION

J A C O B U S

Abiotic Factors – Has Mediterranean type climate Soil and water for the autotrophs

Plant families – Large biodiversity of autotrophs Known for its large biodiversity of trees Large biodiversity of animals because of autotrophs 61 percent of autotrophs are endemic

FOOD CHAIN