Most of Pinnacles National Park is the biome grassland, with occasional patches of forest biome ecosystems. More specifically, the region where the park is located is mixed with temperate forests and chaparral. Pinnacles is located exactly where chaparral is most likely to be found: on a middle latitude and in a coastal region. The plant life in the national park also help indicate that the ecosystem is a chaparral grassland. Some species of plants, however, suggest that there are temperate deciduous forests also found in the park.
The plant life, animals, and the climate of California suggest that it is a region of chaparral. Pinnacles National Park is under the perfect conditions to support a chaparral grassland ecosystem. There are mild winters and dry summers which is ideal for the plants found in Pinnacles. For example, many small shrubs, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers thrive under the hot California sun in Pinnacles National Park. Some of these include: mosquito fern, western chain fern, coastal wood fern, California polypody, bird’s-foot fern, goldback fern, bush poppies, buck brush, peppergrass, monkeyflower, black sage, buckwheat, larkspur, and many others. In addition, many reptiles and mammals living in this national park help categorize it as a chapparal. Small mammals, such as jackrabbits, brush rabbits, chipmunks, and bats are commonly found in dry, scattered grasslands. Other predatory mammals, such as coyotes, are also popular in the area. Pinnacles is home to many species of reptiles, including 8 lizards, 14 snakes, and 1 turtle. Reptiles are often found in chaparral due to the preferable dry landscape, shady trees, and climate. This is why the plants, animals, and climate of Pinnacles National Park suggest that it contains a chaparral ecosystem.
The plant life, animals, and the climate of California suggest that it is a region of chaparral. Pinnacles National Park is under the perfect conditions to support a chaparral grassland ecosystem. There are mild winters and dry summers which is ideal for the plants found in Pinnacles. For example, many small shrubs, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers thrive under the hot California sun in Pinnacles National Park. Some of these include: mosquito fern, western chain fern, coastal wood fern, California polypody, bird’s-foot fern, goldback fern, bush poppies, buck brush, peppergrass, monkeyflower, black sage, buckwheat, larkspur, and many others. In addition, many reptiles and mammals living in this national park help categorize it as a chapparal. Small mammals, such as jackrabbits, brush rabbits, chipmunks, and bats are commonly found in dry, scattered grasslands. Other predatory mammals, such as coyotes, are also popular in the area. Pinnacles is home to many species of reptiles, including 8 lizards, 14 snakes, and 1 turtle. Reptiles are often found in chaparral due to the preferable dry landscape, shady trees, and climate. This is why the plants, animals, and climate of Pinnacles National Park suggest that it contains a chaparral ecosystem.
Another biome that can be found in Pinnacles National Park is temperate deciduous forest. This is because many of the trees found in the area are deciduous, meaning that they have broad, thin leaves. Though most temperate deciduous forests are found on the east coast of the United States, Europe, and Asia, the species native to the forests can be found in this national park. Deciduous trees that are scattered throughout Pinnacles National Park include: valley oak, blue oak, California buckeye, Fremont cottonwood, western sycamore and several others that are related to these listed. Raccoons, squirrels, and deer are some temperate deciduous forest native animals that are found in Pinnacles. These animals, however, are also commonly believed to be native to chaparral, anyways. Other than these few inconsistencies in the wildlife, Pinnacles National Park can be adequately described as a chaparral grassland. In conclusion, from the evidence found in the plant life, mammals, reptiles, and climate/weather of Pinnacles National Park, its biomes include chaparral grassland and, to a lesser extent, temperate deciduous forests.