California's Ecosystems

California's boundaries cover almost 156,000 square miles. It includes many diverse ecosystems including redwood forests, kelp forests and Death Valley's deserts. According to the California Chaparral Institute, the shrubland ecosystem is the most prevalent ecosystem in California with over 4 million acres.

Ecosystems Defined

• California redwood or sequoia forests form a unique forest ecosystem. California Redwood Tree image by Candi from Fotolia.com

  An ecosystem encompasses all the living organisms and the physical features of an area. It also includes the interactions between them. An ecosystem stands apart from others because of its dominant feature, for example ocean, desert, forest or estuarine ecosystems. A habitat refers to a single population of organisms within the ecosystem.

Kelp Forest Ecosystem

• Kelp, visible behind the fish, serves as a fast-growing renewable resource. fish in the ocean image by Galina Barskaya from Fotolia.com

  The kelp forests off the coast of Monterey Bay depict a specialized ocean ecosystem. Brown algae, kelp, makes the trees in this forest. Other organisms that live in the forest include sea cucumbers, otters, abalone, blue rock fish and sea urchins. Kelp grows fast and gets used in many products like toothpaste and pudding.

Shrubland Ecosystem

• Shrubland ecosystems suffer through dry summers. california hills at summer image by Galina Barskaya from Fotolia.com

  Sparse and low-growing vegetation characterizes the shrubland ecosystem or California chaparral. This ecosystem experiences dry summers and winter rains. Some of the organisms native to the chaparral include Chaparral yucca, sage and the big-eared wood rat.