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California Chaparral

EVT 7110Southern California Dry-Mesic Chaparral
CES206.931GNRShrubShrubland
View on NatureServe Explorer
Summary
This ecological system includes chaparral typically located inland from maritime chaparral up to 1500 m (4550 feet) elevation in central and northern California through the northern end of the Central Valley and north into Oregon. This system includes extensive areas on coarse-grained soils with annual precipitation up to 75 cm (winter rain but not snow). Adjacent fine-textured soils support savanna under similar climatic regimes. These areas have supported extensive stand-replacing wildfires. This system is made up of a mixture of mostly obligate seeders. Characteristic species include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Ceanothus cuneatus, Arctostaphylos viscida, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana, Fremontodendron californicum, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Dendromecon rigida, and Pickeringia montana. Common shrubs in Oregon include Arctostaphylos viscida, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, and Ceanothus cordulatus. Fire regimes are intense, stand-replacing crown fires. Scattered and young trees may occur, such as Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Quercus wislizeni.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Vegetation
This system is made up of a mixture of mostly obligate seeders. Characteristic species include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Ceanothus cuneatus, Arctostaphylos viscida, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana, Fremontodendron californicum, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Dendromecon rigida, and Pickeringia montana. Common shrubs in Oregon include Arctostaphylos viscida, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, and Ceanothus cordulatus. Scattered and young trees may occur, such as Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Quercus wislizeni.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Environment
This chaparral occurs inland of coastal chaparral and up to 1500 m (4550 feet) elevation in central and northern California through the northern end of the Central Valley and north into Oregon. This system includes extensive areas on coarse-grained soils with annual precipitation up to 75 cm (winter rain but not snow).
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Dynamics
Fire regimes are intense, stand-replacing crown fires.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Distribution
This system is located inland from maritime chaparral up to 1500 m (4550 feet) elevation in central and northern California, and southwestern Oregon, through the north end of the California Central Valley.
Source: NatureServe Explorer
Ecologically Associated Plant Species

Plant species that characterize this ecosystem type, organized by vegetation stratum. These are species ecologically associated with the ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific area.

Tree canopy

Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus wislizeni

Shrub/sapling (tall & short)

Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana, Arctostaphylos viscida, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus cuneatus, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Dendromecon rigida, Fremontodendron californicum, Pickeringia montana

Short shrub/sapling

Malacothamnus fasciculatus

Herb (field)

Fritillaria gentneri, Limnanthes floccosa ssp. bellingeriana, Plagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpus
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Ecologically Associated Animals (1)

Animal species ecologically associated with this ecosystem type based on NatureServe assessment. These are species whose habitat requirements overlap with this ecosystem, not confirmed present in any specific roadless area.

Birds (1)

Common NameScientific NameG-Rank
WrentitChamaea fasciataG5
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
At-Risk Species Associated with this Ecosystem (4)

Species with conservation concern that are ecologically associated with this ecosystem type. G-Rank indicates global conservation status: G1 (critically imperiled) through G5 (secure). ESA status indicates U.S. Endangered Species Act listing.

Common NameScientific NameG-RankESA Status
Stanford's ManzanitaArctostaphylos stanfordianaG3--
Gentner's FritillaryFritillaria gentneriG2Endangered
Bellinger's MeadowfoamLimnanthes floccosa ssp. bellingerianaG4T3--
Coral-seeded AllocaryaPlagiobothrys figuratus ssp. corallicarpusG4T1T2--
Source: NatureServe Ecological System assessment
Component Associations (9)

Plant community associations that occur within this ecological system. Associations are the finest level of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and describe specific, repeating assemblages of plant species. Each association represents a distinct community type that may be found where this ecosystem occurs.

NameG-Rank
Adenostoma fasciculatum - (Arctostaphylos glandulosa - Ceanothus jepsonii) ShrublandG2 NatureServe
Adenostoma fasciculatum - Arctostaphylos glandulosa - Quercus wislizeni ShrublandG3 NatureServe
Adenostoma fasciculatum - Ceanothus cuneatus Chaparral ShrublandG4 NatureServe
Adenostoma fasciculatum - Diplacus aurantiacus ShrublandG3 NatureServe
Adenostoma fasciculatum Sierran Chaparral ShrublandG5 NatureServe
Arctostaphylos glauca ShrublandG3 NatureServe
Arctostaphylos viscida Sierran Chaparral ShrublandG5 NatureServe
Ceanothus cuneatus ShrublandG4 NatureServe
Quercus (parvula, wislizeni) - Arctostaphylos glandulosa ShrublandG3 NatureServe
State Conservation Ranks (2)

Subnational conservation status ranks (S-ranks) assigned by Natural Heritage Programs in each state where this ecosystem occurs. S1 indicates critically imperiled at the state level, S2 imperiled, S3 vulnerable, S4 apparently secure, and S5 secure. An ecosystem may be globally secure but imperiled in specific states at the edge of its range.

StateS-Rank
CASNR
ORSNR
Roadless Areas (72)

Inventoried Roadless Areas where this ecosystem is present, identified from LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type spatial analysis. Coverage indicates the proportion of each area occupied by this ecosystem type.

California (72)

AreaForestCoverageHectares
Red MountainAngeles National Forest87.7%2,851.29
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest84.0%3,746.61
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest80.3%2,629.71
JuncalLos Padres National Forest77.3%3,843.09
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest76.7%4,265.64
CalienteCleveland National Forest74.3%1,788.66
No NameCleveland National Forest73.1%1,448.37
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest72.9%3,547.71
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest71.5%4,497.48
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest70.8%1,219.5
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest69.9%1,477.17
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest68.5%700.56
TuleAngeles National Forest68.2%2,719.98
Cahuilla MountainSan Bernardino National Forest67.9%1,910.88
DiableLos Padres National Forest65.3%5,176.71
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest64.8%7,833.42
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest64.5%3,116.7
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest64.1%4,418.73
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest63.8%3,661.02
WildhorseCleveland National Forest63.7%381.78
Condor PointLos Padres National Forest63.3%3,815.82
MonoLos Padres National Forest62.5%7,118.19
TrabucoCleveland National Forest61.8%5,841.27
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest61.6%3,620.88
San Mateo CanyonCleveland National Forest60.9%16.11
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest58.1%2,109.51
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest58.1%1,930.14
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest57.5%1,508.76
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest56.3%4,242.78
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest54.5%5,266.35
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest54.3%4,653.18
LaddCleveland National Forest54.2%1,162.26
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest52.8%1,796.22
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest51.0%1,316.79
West ForkAngeles National Forest46.9%221.85
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest46.8%95.22
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest44.9%1,315.71
ManzanaLos Padres National Forest44.8%381.33
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest42.3%1,230.39
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest41.3%786.06
San DimasAngeles National Forest40.8%1,183.23
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest40.1%1,225.8
Pyramid Peak ASan Bernardino National Forest39.5%2,267.01
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest39.0%3,327.39
WestforkAngeles National Forest38.8%691.11
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest38.1%633.24
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest37.2%3,977.01
Sill HillCleveland National Forest36.2%774.9
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest35.7%15,459.03
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest35.7%980.19
CuyamaLos Padres National Forest33.5%2,664.99
Little PineLos Padres National Forest31.4%167.13
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest31.1%6,456.33
QuatalLos Padres National Forest30.7%900.72
TequepisLos Padres National Forest30.5%1,118.88
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest28.3%355.68
City CreekSan Bernardino National Forest25.9%1,048.41
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest25.6%711.18
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest23.9%763.47
Granite PeakSan Bernardino National Forest22.9%41.58
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest19.7%906.57
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest19.6%944.91
La BreaLos Padres National Forest16.8%954.54
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest15.1%76.59
Heartbreak RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest14.7%264.87
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest13.2%288.99
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest11.1%2,330.55
AntimonyLos Padres National Forest8.2%1,363.14
Horseshoe SpringsLos Padres National Forest7.8%446.13
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest7.1%236.61
Mirada PimeLos Padres National Forest6.3%338.94
Lpoor CanyonLos Padres National Forest1.5%86.04
Methodology and Data Sources

Ecosystem classification: Ecosystems are classified using the LANDFIRE 2024 Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) layer, mapped to NatureServe Terrestrial Ecological Systems via a curated crosswalk. Each EVT is linked to the USNVC (U.S. National Vegetation Classification) hierarchy through pixel-level co-occurrence analysis of LANDFIRE EVT and NatureServe IVC Group rasters across all roadless areas.

Vegetation coverage: Coverage percentages and hectares are derived from zonal statistics of the LANDFIRE 2024 EVT raster intersected with roadless area boundaries.

Ecosystem narratives and community species: Sourced from the NatureServe Explorer API, representing professional ecological assessments of vegetation composition, environmental setting, dynamics, threats, and characteristic species assemblages.

IVC hierarchy: The International Vegetation Classification hierarchy is sourced from the USNVC v3.0 Catalog, providing the full classification from Biome through Association levels.

Component associations: Plant community associations listed as components of each NatureServe Ecological System. Association data from the NatureServe Explorer API.

State ranks: Conservation status ranks assigned by NatureServe member programs in each state where the ecosystem occurs.