By: Cathy Jacobs, PH.D, Dept. of Biology
California State University Dominguez Hills

Click on pictures to enlarge

Riparian Woodland

Big Sycamore Canyon

Big Sycamore Canyon

Monkey Flower

Riparian woodland is made up of plants which grow near streams and lakes. These plants require more water than scrub-adapted plants, and often have large leaves. At lower elevations, the dominant trees are western sycamore, California bay laurel, mule fat, black willow, red willow, sandbar willow, and arroyo willow. At middle elevations, white alder, big-leaf maple, and black cottonwood are added. Fremont cottonwood replaces black cottonwood in the interior valleys. Due to stream channelization and development, much riparian habitat is disappearing in Southern California, and as it vanishes, so do the animals which rely on it. The least Bell's vireo, a small songbird, has been reduced to about 300 pairs due to habitat destruction and brood parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird. Other typical animals include northern orioles, hooded orioles, phainopeplas, dusky-footed wood rats, rufous-sided towhees, deer mice, coyotes, and California ground squirrels.

For more pictures on Riparian Woodland click here