Description of Habitats

Coastal sage (S) characterized by low spaced shrubs with sages, buckwheat, bush sunflower and false heathers predominant. Rich plant diversity in understory. Covers large areas both along coast and inland. Good butterfly habitat especially where interspersed with small grassland fragments.

Chaparral (C) characterized by tall densely spaced shrubs with wild lilac, chamise, or scrub oak with other species variously predominant, depending on elevation, location and exposure. Good butterfly habitat where broken by grassland openings. Diversity maintained by periodic fires.

Oak woodland (O) occurs where coast live, valley or blue oaks-all large tress predominate. In many areas individuals are well spaced with grassland beneath, producing an oak savannah. Very sensitive to disturbance and has been extensively destroyed. In some placed interspersed with chaparral.

Riparian (R) is the community found along running watercourses. Willow, sycamore predominate, with a rich diversity of shrubs and herbs at the interface to drier upland ares. Very rich sensitive to disturbance. Extensive destruction to date by concrete containment for flood control.

Grassland (G) characterized by dominant grass cover with many forbs interspersed. Usually on thin hilltop soils and as patches within coastal sage, chaparral, and oak woodland. Highly disturbed as habitat because most native grasses have been replaced by Mediterranean species. The Los Angeles coastal prairie of earlier times now completely extirpated.

Coastal Sand Dunes (D) now only found as small fragments at El Segundo, and Pt. Dume and Pt. Mugu State Parks. An endangered habitat with high endemism. Characterized by well spaced low shrubs with false heather, coast buckwheat, dune lupine and sand verbena and primrose dominant.

Coastal Salt Marsh (M) has been reduced to small areas at Playa del Rey and along the Orange country coast. The terrestrial components are monotonous, but endemism is very high and biomass rich. Few butterflies, but one endemic, the wandering Skipper.