F. Productivity . Coastal southern California and northern Baja California, Mexico. Hot winds and fire frequently occur in late fall at end of dry season. Generally poor soils, shallow and rocky. Fire climax community.
Many species have volatile oils in the leaves meaning that they burn rapidly.
Diversity of birds, especially ground birds, deer and small mammals. Many narrowly endemic. Chaparral a more southern biome, moved to its present position during Pliocene and Pleistocene times, becoming less expansive. Formed as a result of drying trend over last 10 my. Frequent fires have done much to maintain biome.